WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 6 University of New Haven baseball team bounced back to close out its three-game NE10 divisional series against the American International Yellow Jackets by sweeping both ends of a doubleheader, taking the first game 5-3 before recording a 9-3 victory in the nightcap.
Leading the Chargers in the twin bill was a trio of players who combined for four hits total on the day; graduate students Tom Walraven (Pine Bush, N.Y./Pine Bush) and Jack Zagaja (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) and junior James Myers (Saint James, N.Y./Smithtown East). Overall, the Chargers scattered 23 hits on the day, four of which went for extra bases, all doubles. Fourteen of 23 total hits came in game two for New Haven, as seven different players finished with at least one base knock.
Among the three leading hitters, Zagaja led the way with a team-best four RBI, all of which came in the second game of the day when he finished 3-of-5 at the plate, with all three of those hits going for two-bases. Walraven also finished the second game with three of his four hits as he knocked in one run on the day. Myers and freshman George Pappas (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) each knocked in two runs, while PJ Contreras (Hauppauge, N.Y./Hauppauge) (3), Joe Caico (Hopedale, Mass./Worcester (MA)) (2) and Matt Chamberlain (North Branford, Conn./North Branford) (2) all finished with a multi-hit day combined over the two games.
On the hill, sophomore Brandon LaManna (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) and freshman Izaiya
Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) earned the victories with LaManna's coming on a pair of scoreless relief innings, while Mestre improved to 4-0 on the season with a three-run seven-inning performance in game two. Mestre also led the pitching staff on the day with eight strikeouts, while LaManna struck out six batters in two innings of work.
LaManna was one of five relievers who did not surrender an earned run on the day with Will Aldam (Danbury, Conn./Berkshire School) throwing the longest of the five as he went three and a third innings in game one. Additionally, senior Kellen Croce (Cheshire, Conn./Gunnery School) picked up his team-leading fourth save of the season in the opening game.
GAME ONE HIGHLIGHTS
For the second-straight game, the Chargers gave up a pair of runs to open up the game with the Yellow Jackets closing out the first half inning with two hits, including an RBI double from Reed Phillips. The Blue and Gold began chipping into that early deficit in the second inning when they pushed one run across the plate all without recording a hit and made possible with three miscues in the Yellow Jackets battery. The scoring play began when Caico earned a lead off free pass taking a pitch in on the hands for the hit batsman. After a sac bunt pushed him to second, Caico advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch.
For the second-straight game, the Chargers gave up a pair of runs to open up the game with the Yellow Jackets closing out the first half inning with two hits, including an RBI double from Reed Phillips. The Blue and Gold began chipping into that early deficit in the second inning when they pushed one run across the plate all without recording a hit and made possible with three miscues in the Yellow Jackets battery. The scoring play began when Caico earned a lead off free pass taking a pitch in on the hands for the hit batsman. After a sac bunt pushed him to second, Caico advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch.
New Haven scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth and in the process knocked out the Yellow Jackets starting pitcher Joe Kemlage. Both of the Blue and Gold's runs came with two outs in the inning with the first courtesy of an RBI single to right from designated hitter Rob Giovanelli (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset), which scored Contreras from second. Contreras originally reached base on a lead off infield single, while that hit for Giovanelli left runners on the corners. Giovanelli again led to the next Chargers run when he danced off of first base drawing the pitchers attention and a throwback to second base, which allowed Myers to break for home and score after eluding the tag on the throw home.
First baseman Andrew Garcia (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue Medford) kept the New Haven rally going picking up the RBI for the go-ahead and the insurance run which came in the seventh and eighth innings, respectively. In the seventh, Garcia's RBI came on a one-out single to right field which allowed Caico to score from second. Caico originally reached base on a single down the right field line before swiping second to get into scoring position.
In the eighth, the insurance run for New Haven came with two outs and courtesy of four free passes from the Yellow Jackets. The first runner to reach safely was Giovanelli who was hit by a pitch, while Walraven followed that up with a five-pitch walk. After the second out was recorded, AIC intentionally walked Caico which brought Garcia to the plate with the bases loaded. The Chargers first baseman then battled back from an 0-2 count to work a six-pitch walk earning the free pass RBI.
GAME TWO HIGHLIGHTS
Once again, New Haven would be forced to work from behind in the final game of the series, however this time around the Yellow Jackets were only able to muster a single run in the top of the first inning. AIC's leadoff batter, Matt Costanza, opened up the second game with a single through the right side and was eventually rewarded on an RBI groundout from leftfielder Reed Phillips.
Once again, New Haven would be forced to work from behind in the final game of the series, however this time around the Yellow Jackets were only able to muster a single run in the top of the first inning. AIC's leadoff batter, Matt Costanza, opened up the second game with a single through the right side and was eventually rewarded on an RBI groundout from leftfielder Reed Phillips.
Sandwiched between a pair of three-up, three-down innings for starting pitcher Izaiya Mestre (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) was a two-run second inning for the Blue and Gold which provided the first lead change of the game. Both runs came courtesy of the Chargers nine-hole hitter, Myers. Myers, who came up with the bases loaded, floated the third pitch he faced into left center, knocking in Garcia and Caico for the 2-1 lead.
After surrendering two runs to the Yellow Jackets in the top of the fourth inning, the Chargers bats woke up in the bottom of the fourth with five hits scoring four runs, closing out the inning with a 6-3 lead. All four runs came with two outs in the inning as designated hitter George Pappas (Binghamton, N.Y./Susquehanna Valley) began the rally with a single, the first of three-straight. The third single in that series came from Chamberlain as he sailed a hit into left center scoring Pappas. After Giovanelli was hit by a pit to load the bases, Walraven wheeled out an infield single to short that allowed Myers to score, which was quickly followed by a double to left from Zagaja which plated two more runs.
The Chargers managed two more runs in the sixth inning using a pair of loud hits, doubles from Walraven and Zagaja, with the latter into the corner down the left field line which scored Giovanelli and Walraven for the 8-3 lead. The Blue and Gold tacked one more run on in the eighth inning, that coming on a sacrifice fly to center field off of end of Caico's bat.
UP NEXT
The Chargers return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon when they close out a four-game home stand with an NE10 divisional match-up against the Pace Setters. First pitch from Vieira Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
The Chargers return to the diamond on Tuesday afternoon when they close out a four-game home stand with an NE10 divisional match-up against the Pace Setters. First pitch from Vieira Field is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
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