(03-24-08)
Box Score
DOBBS FERRY, NY - Freshman Tom Rombilus (photo) drove in the game-winning run with an infield single in the top of the 11th inning as the University of New Haven baseball team defeated host Mercy College 4-3 in East Coast Conference action on Monday.
Rombilus, who was named ECC Rookie of the Week earlier in the day for his performances last week, started the new week off hot by driving in both the game-winning and game-tying runs for New Haven (6-10, 2-1 ECC). He was 2-for-4 in the game, while Chad Lemos also collected a pair of hits and an RBI for the Chargers.
In the 11th, Dan Rosa singled with one away to start the UNH rally. After a fly out to center, he stole second base and moved to third on a throwing error trying to catch him. That put Rosa in position to score on Rombilus's infield chopper, which couldn't be handled by the defense of Mercy (5-12, 1-2 ECC).
Dan Johnson saved the game for UNH - literally and figuratively - by shutting down the Mavericks in the bottom of the 11th. After Mitch Rossi (4 scoreless innings, 5 strikeouts) allowed a pair of singles to start the inning, Johnson came in to relieve him and got two flyouts to center field, sandwiched around a strikeout, to end the game.
The 11th-inning heroics capped off a three-run UNH rally which started in the seventh inning. Mercy led 3-1 a majority of the game before the Chargers were able to capitalize on an error at first base in the seventh. The miscue allowed one run to score and left runners on the corners for Rombilus, who by singling in the game-tying run in the form of Greg Steele.
The Chargers had jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, pushing across a run on an RBI single by Lemos. Mercy responded with two runs in the bottom half of the first, getting an RBI from Steve Summer on a fielder's choice and another run on the same play following an error. The Mavericks added a run in the third on a base hit by Justin Muscarella inside the first base bag that plated Matt Walsh to stretch the lead to 3-1.
Left-hander Steve Merslich continued to keep the New Haven offense at bay until the seventh. Merslich went the first 7 1/3 innings for Mercy, allowing just one earned run on only four hits and striking out five batters before the error helped plate two unearned runs. Rossi (2-1) tossed four innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win for New Haven, striking out five batters and scattering three hits.
UNH steps outside ECC play for a date at non-conference foe American International College tomorrow (Tuesday), and hosts conference foe Concordia (N.Y.) on Wednesday at Vieira Field.
