Baseball Advances to NEC Championship with 4-1 Win Over Sacred Heart

The top-seeded Central Connecticut baseball team eliminated fourth-seeded Sacred Heart on Saturday with a 4-1 win in the semifinals of the Northeast Conference Tournament in Wappingers Falls, NY. TJ Wainwright struck out a career-best seven hitters on the mound and Ramon Jimenez had four hits to lead the way.

The Blue Devils will move on to play Wagner in the championship game on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score: #1 CCSU 4,  #4 SACRED HEART 1
Pitching Record: W: -Wainwright (5-1)  |  L: Hawkins (3-2) | Sv: Spizzoucco (2)
Records: CCSU (34-12), SHU (28-30)
Location: Heritage Financial Park | Wappingers Falls, NY

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils were able to strike first in the bottom of the opening inning. A bunt single by Kyle Gordon was followed by a liner through the middle by Ramon Jimenez to put runners on the corners with one out. Aidan Redahan followed with a single through the middle to drive in a run and make it 1-0. CCSU would load the bases with one out, but a double play would end the threat of any more scoring.
• Michael Torniero opened the second with a double to the gap in right center. He moved to third on a ground out and would score on a single through the middle by Elliot Good to make it 2-0.
• Sacred Heart was held to just three hits through six innings, but Ryan Donnelly would lead off the seventh with a homerun to right center to cut the Pioneers deficit to 2-1. SHU would get a runner to second with two outs, but a flyout would end the frame.
• Central would load the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Jimenez would punch his fourth hit of the day into center field to drive in two runs and push the lead to 4-1.
• The Pioneers would take advantage of back-to-back singles and a CCSU error to load the bases with nobody out in the ninth. Vincent Spizzoucco would force three straight foul pop ups to close out the contest.

NOTES

• CCSU has won four of five meetings this year and are 9-6 in NEC Tournament meetings. The Blue Devils have won seven straight matchups in the conference championship and own a 60-43 all-time mark against the Pioneers.
• TJ Wainwright struck out a career-high seven over 7.0 innings of work He allowed one run on four hits and a walk.
• Ramon Jimenez went 4-for-4 with two RBIs and collected eight hits in the past two games.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils will move on to play Wagner in the championship game on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

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