(03-26-08)
Box Score
WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- Junior Evan Okon singled to right field with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, lifting the University of New Haven to a 2-1 win over Concordia College (N.Y.) in East Coast Conference play on Wednesday at Frank Vieira Field.
Okon, who finished the game 3-for-5, took Giuseppe Granitto's 1-2 offering the opposite way to right field, plating Dan Rosa with the game-winning run. The victory, which was the seventh in the last 10 games for the Chargers, improves UNH's record to 7-11 overall and 3-1 in the ECC.
Concordia got eight strong innings from starter Tommy Paradise, but falls to 3-12 overall and 0-4 in conference. Paradise scattered seven hits and a pair of walks in eight innings, striking out six Charger batters. One of the two runs he allowed was unearned after his own throwing error. Tom Bordanaro finished 3-for-5 for the Clippers, while Donnie Roth and Michael Pompa collected two hits apiece.
Kyle Donnelly was the only other Charger to have multiple hits, getting a pair of singles in three at-bats.
One of Donnelly's singles came on a sacrifice bunt attempt in the ninth inning. After Rosa led off the inning with a double to deep left field, Donnelly squared around to sacrifice. But he pushed the bouncing ball just far enough into the infield to buy time to get to first base safely. Concordia then intentionally walked pinch hitter Jimmy Rivas - the Chargers' best hitter with a .458 average coming into the game - to bring the force out at home plate into play.
Tom Rombilus lined out to short stop in the next at-bat, bringing Okon to the plate. He had singled in the first and eighth innings, and added his third hit with a sharp liner into shallow right field to win the game.
The victory went to reliever Mitch Rossi, now 3-1 on the season for the Chargers. He allowed just one hit while striking out a pair in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Dan Blake started for the Chargers, allowing one run while striking out five in five innings of work. Ian Solomon kept the lead with 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just a pair of hits.
UNH continues ECC play this weekend, beginning with a pair of games at Molloy on Saturday. The Lions return the trip to West Haven for a single game on Sunday, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
