Baseball Falls to Quinnipiac in Game Shortened by Sundown

The Central Connecticut baseball team came up short against Quinnipiac, 15-14, on Tuesday in non-conference action at CCSU Baseball Field. The Blue Devils scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth but the game would be called due to darkness before the ninth.

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday with the start of a three-game series against Le Moyne.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 14, QUINNIPIAC 15
Pitching Record: W: McNaught (2-3) | L: Munn (2-4) | Save: Alduino (2)
Records: CCSU (11-20 NEC), QU (15-21)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Quinnipiac would open the scoring in the top of the first, plating three runs. Christian Smith would hit a two-out solo homerun to get the scoring started. Gabe Wright followed two batters later with an RBI triple before scoring on a groundout to make it 3-0.
• After the deficit grew to four runs in the top of the third, CCSU would respond with two runs in the bottom of the third. Brady Short would double to left center with one out and Aidan Redahan scored from first for the first run. A single moved Short to third before a sac fly by Hunter Pasqualini brought him home to make it 4-2.
• The Bobcats batted around in the fifth, scoring four more runs. Smith would hit a two-run homer and was followed by a solo homer from CJ Willis to push the lead to 7-2. A sacrifice bunt would plate another run to make it 8-2.
• Central would chip away with a three-run bottom of the inning. With runners on first and second, Joe Rios doubled to left center to clear the bases. Elliot Good would follow with a double of his own to make the score 8-5.
• Merlonghi would plate a run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning before Quinnipiac batted around again in the seventh inning and scored seven runs. Kyle Garbowski had a two-run single  and Matt DeRosa hit a three-run double to highlight the inning and push the lead to 15-6.
• CCSU would start another rally in the bottom of the seventh, led off by Dan Hussey who hit a pinch-hit home run to left field. Derek Haughey and Danny Rogers each had RBI-doubles, while Josh Taylor had a two-run double to get the Blue Devils within, 15-11.
• Central would walk the bases loaded to open the bottom of the eighth inning. Kyle Gordon would plate a run on a single before Short drew a walk to force in another run. Merlonghi hit a sac fly to right field to bring in a run and make it 15-14, but CCSU would be unable to add another run before being retired and the game would then be called due to darkness.

 NOTES

• CCSU leads the all-time series, 43-23.
• Central collected a season-high nine extra-base hits.
• Four Blue Devils had two hits, in addition to four driving in two runs.
• Central has had at least 12 hits as a team in each of the past three contests.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils return to action on Friday with the start of a three-game series against Le Moyne.

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