(03-30-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Senior Jimmy Rivas drove in five runs in three innings to lead the University of New Haven baseball team to an 8-5 victory over cross-town rival Southern Connecticut State University Monday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. The Chargers improve to 8-8 overall (4-4 NE-10), while the Owls fall to 7-10 overall (2-1 NE-10).
The Chargers wasted no time getting on the board Monday afternoon with two runs in the first inning. New Haven's first four batters got on base thanks to three hits and a walk. Batting fourth, Rivas stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs. He hit a double to right center, driving in two runs.
The Chargers held the Owls scoreless in the second and third before adding four more runs in the bottom of the third. Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) Freshman of the Week Ryan Brockett led off the inning for the Chargers with a walk. Evan Okon then singled and Rivas once again stepped to the plate with runners on base. He again knocked a double over the head of the SCSU centerfielder which drove in two more runs. A two-RBI double to center field from Ken Bilodeau later in the inning gave the Chargers a 6-0 lead after three.
Rivas knocked in his fifth run in the fourth inning off a single to left field. The Chargers scored their final run in the fifth inning off a Tom Rombilus RBI.
The Owls cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a run and added two more in each of the final two innings. The Owls rally came up short as Mitch Rossi stepped to the mound for UNH and grabbed his second save of the season.
UNH starting pitcher Vince Lehman recorded his third-straight win of the season. He threw seven complete innings and allowed just one earned run. He also threw five strikeouts and held the Owls to just three hits.
Rivas went 3-for-5 with five RBI and one walk, while Bilodeau went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Okon tallied two hits and two runs, and Brockett added two runs. Rombilus drove in one run and scored one, while Kyle Donnelly scored two and had one hit.
The Chargers return to action tomorrow when they host American International College at Vieira Field. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
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