Baseball Picks Up a 4-2 Win at UAlbany Tuesday
The Blue Devils have a four-game series at Bryant beginning Friday.
The Central Connecticut baseball team used a balanced team effort to pick up a 4-2 win at the University at Albany on Tuesday. The Blue Devils had four players knock in a run and three pitchers contribute in the victory.
CCSU improved to 13-19 overall on the year and the Great Danes slip to 17-17 overall.
The Blue Devils begin a four-game Northeast Conference series at Bryant on Friday.
Central scored all of its runs in the fifth inning. Junior Justin Sportman reached on an error to lead off and freshman Sam Loda followed with a walk. The pair scooted to second on a sacrifice bunt before senior Dean Lockery singled to left to plate the first run and tie the game, 1-1. Freshman Christian Layne loaded the bases on a bunt single with one out. Sophomore Buddy Dewaine singled and senior Nick Garland hit a sac fly, each driving in a run, to give CCSU a 3-1 advantage. Following a walk to freshman Peyton Stephens that loaded the bases again, sophomore Chris Kanios drew a base on balls to bring home the fourth run of the inning to make it 4-1.
The lead would be enough for the CCSU pitching staff. After the Great Danes got an RBI double in the bottom of the first to open the scoring, the Blue Devils pitchers would allow just one runner to reach third base over the next six innings.
UAlbany scored a consolation run in the eighth inning after stringing together three straight hits. Connor Powers doubled to drive in a run and make it 4-2. Junior Patrick Mitchell retired the final four outs to close out the win.
Freshman Matt Shane got the win in relief on the mound. He tossed 4.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits, while walking one and striking out three. Mitchell got his first save of the season, allowing one hit over 1.1 innings. He had a strikeout. Sophomore Michael Delease started and tossed 3.0 innings. He allowed a run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
Dewaine had two hits for CCSU, as six different Blue Devils had a basehit in the game. Stephens reached base three times, drawing two walks to go with a single.
