Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader From Norfolk State on Friday

The Central Connecticut baseball team swept Norfolk State in a doubleheader to open a three-game Northeast Conference series on Friday at CCSU Baseball Field. The Blue Devils won the first game, 8-4, and shut out the Spartans, 6-0, in game two. Central has won nine straight and continued its best Northeast Conference start in program history improving to 8-0 in league play. 

CCSU and Norfolk State will play the third game of the series on Sunday at Noon. 

GAME INFORMATION

GAME 1 BOX SCORE
Game 1: CCSU 8, Norfolk State 4 
Pitching Record: W: Niman (4-0) | L: Barham (0-2) | Sv: - - 

GAME 2 BOX SCORE
Game 2: CCSU 6, Norfolk State 0 
Pitching Record: W: Wainwright (2-0) | L: Capps (0-2) | Sv: - - 

Records: CCSU (11-3, 8-0 NEC), Norfolk State (3-17, 1-4 NEC) 
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT 

GAME ONE KEY MOMENTS 

• CCSU plated runs in each of the first four innings, with a four spot in the fourth inning as it built a 7-1 lead 
• Hunter Pasqualini earned a one-out walk in the bottom of the first, stole second and scored with Ramon Jimenez doubled down the right field line two batters later 
• A Kyle Gordon sacrifice fly scored Derek Haughey, who had led off the inning with a double, to give the Blue Devils the 2-0 advantage 
• After Norfolk State plated a run in the top of the third, Joe Rios was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a walk and then scored when Jeff Nicol singled up the middle 
• Rios provided the big hit, a grand slam in the fourth inning to make the score 7-1 
• CCSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh when John Horton threw a bases loaded wild pitch that scored Pasqualini 
• Norfolk State took advantage of a pair of CCSU errors in the eighth and scored three runs, but Luke Garofalo closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth. 

GAME TWO KEY MOMENTS 

• The Blue Devils got all the offense they needed in the top of the first, scoring three runs. After Dan Hussey was hit by a pitch and Pasqualini singled to open the inning, they moved into scoring position on a fly ball. Jimenez delivered a two-run single to left. Jimenez would move to second a single before scoring on a failed pick off throw that skipped into center field and made it 3-0. 
• CCSU added two more runs in the third inning with Haughey plating a run on a groundout and Jimmy Sullivan following with an RBI single to make it a 5-0 lead. 
• Brady Short hit a leadoff homer in the eighth inning to round out the scoring. 
• TJ Wainwright allowed just one hit through the first four innings in his first career start and Randy Reyes and Vincent Spizzoucco combined for four innings of shutout relief. 

NOTES 

• The Blue Devils have won nine straight dating back to March 8. 
• The 7-0 start to league play is the best start in program history. 
• Dominic Niman improved to 4-0 on the mound this season. He allowed two earned runs over 8.0 innings, while striking out six. 
• Wainwright scattered four hits over 5.0 innings and had two strikeouts. 
• Reyes struck out two in 3.0 innings of work, while Spizzoucco struck out the side in the ninth inning. 
• Short went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader with two runs scored and an RBI. 
• Jimenez, Pasqualini and Jeff Nicol each added three hits on the day. Pasqualini added three runs scored, while Jimenez had two runs and three RBIs.  
• Rios extended his hitting streak to nine games with a hit in each game. 

UP NEXT 

CCSU and Norfolk State will play the third game of the series on Sunday at Noon.