Baseball Wins Series Finale on Senior Day Against Delaware State

The Central Connecticut baseball team closed out the season with a 17-9 win over Delaware State in Northeast Conference action for Senior Day on Saturday in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils would erupt for nine runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull away for the victory.

Central recognized a group of 15 seniors prior to the contest and ending the season on a positive note. CCSU was eliminated from NEC Tournament contention with FDU's win at Wagner.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE

Score:  CCSU 17, DELAWARE STATE 9
Pitching Record: W: Benhardt (1-1) | L: Harris (0-1) | Save:  - - 
Records: CCSU (18-24, 17-15 NEC), DSU (22-25, 20-13 NEC)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Central loaded the bases on three base on balls in the bottom of the first with one out. Gianno Merlonghi would get Central on the board with a two-run single to left field. Two batters later, Joe Rios would launch a homerun over the rightfield fence to make it 5-0.
• Delaware State would come back in the top of the second inning with seven runs of its own. JanCarlos Colon, Kodai Yaoita and Krew Bouldin each had two-run hits to spark the Hornets to a 7-5 lead after two innings.
• The Blue Devils rally with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. With two outs, Kyle Gordon and Hunter Pasqualini would hit back-to-back singles. After Pasqualini stole second to move a pair of runners into scoring position, Jeff Nicol would bring them both in with a double to center to tie the game.
• The Hornets would regain the lead in the sixth inning taking advantage of a pair of CCSU miscues. After an error opened the inning, Jan Carlos Colon singled to put runners on the corners for Evan Bouldin who would double in the first run. With two outs, Jaryn Sample put the ball in play but it was fumbled and allowed Colon to score and make it 9-7.
• Central would get a run back in the seventh on a double by Merlonghi to make it a one-run game heading into the eighth. In the bottom of the eighth, CCSU would send 15 batters to the plate. Rios, Michael Torniero and Derek Haughey would drive in runs on three consecutive hits, putting CCSU ahead, 13-9. Pasqualini added a two-run single and would later score on a wild pitch to push the lead to 17-9.
• Jack Kelley would come on to throw the ninth and put the Hornets down in order to end the game.

NOTES

• CCSU leads the all-time series, 8-5.
• The Blue Devils' bullpen combined to throw 7.1 innings, allowing just five hits, while striking out nine batters. Wyatt Cameron struck out seven over 4.1 innings, while Nic Benhardt got the win after throwing 2.0 shutout frames.
• Rios went 3-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. He also drew two walks to reach base five times.
• Nicol had a three-hit day with two runs and two RBIs.
• Merlonghi added four RBIs and two runs on a pair of hits.
• Gordon reached base four times in the game and scored four runs.

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