Baseball Takes Series Finale at Navy, 8-1
Blue Devils sweep three-game series.
The Central Connecticut baseball team downed Navy, 8-1, on Sunday to sweep the three-game series. Central pounded out 12 hits and got strong pitching again to win their third straight game.
The Blue Devils improve to 4-2 on the year with the win and Navy falls to 6-4.
Central got on the board in the top of the second with two runs. Sophomore Mitch Guilmette singled and senior Matt Martinez walked to start the inning. Senior Connor Fitzsimons laid down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error allowed Guilmette to score to make it 1-0 and put runners on second and third. Martinez made it 2-0 when he came home on a groundout by junior Franklin Jennings.
Navy got a run back in the third. Logan Knowles reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on a single by Robert Currie. He came home on a fielder's choice to make it 2-1.
The Blue Devils added to their lead with two runs in the sixth. Guilmette drew a two-out walk and Martinez followed by reaching base on an error to extend the inning. Fitzsimons followed with a two-out double to clear the bases and make it 4-1.
Central loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh and added to its lead. Sophomore Ryan Costello lofted a sacrifice fly to left field and brought home Jennings to extend the CCSU lead to 5-1.
The Blue Devils then tacked on three more insurance runs in the top of the ninth. Lockery and Costello led off the inning with a single and a walk, respectively. Junior Andrew Hinckley followed with a single to load the bases. A double play allowed Lockery to score, before a double by Martinez plated Costello. Junior Nick Landell singled to score Martinez and make it 8-1.
The lead was enough for junior Brett Susi who held Navy to one hit after giving up a run in the third inning. In 8.0 innings of work he allowed just one run on four hits with three strikeouts, while walking three. Freshman Mike Appel closed it out, throwing 1.0 inning and allowing one hit and striking out one.
Fitzsimons drove in two runs, while Martinez scored three times and collected two hits. Lockery, Costello and Jennings each had two hits of their own as the Blue Devils rapped out 12 hits on the afternoon.
Noah Song started for Navy and threw 2.0 innings. He allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits. Sam Sorenson threw 4.0 innings in relief and took the loss after allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits. He struck out three and walked one.
The Blue Devils will host Hartford on Wednesday, March 9, in their home opener for 2016 at CCSU Baseball Field. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.
