(04-16-09) MANCHESTER, N.H. - The University of New Haven baseball team defeated St. Anselm College 4-1 in 10 innings Thursday afternoon at Sullivan Park in New Hampshire. Senior Evan Okon hit a single to right field in the top of the eighth inning to pass Rob Skinnon as the Chargers career hits leader. The Chargers improve to 14-13 overall and 10-9 in the Northeast-10 Conference with the win, while the Hawks fall to 12-19 overall and 8-8 in conference play.
Okon, who was hit by a pitch in the first inning and fouled out in his second at bat, tied Skinnon's career record, which was set in 2000, in the sixth inning off a single to right center. After breaking the record in the eighth, Okon hit a one-out double to left center in the 10th inning to score the Chargers game-winning run and to tie the UNH career doubles record (53), which he now shares with Michael Moras.
New Haven and St. Anselm played scoreless through six innings and each scored one run in the seventh inning. Each team also left two runners on base in the seventh inning and one runner on base in the eighth inning. Each team retired the side in the ninth inning and forced an extra inning.
The top of New Haven's batting order fell perfect in the 10th inning. Freshman Ryan Brockett was the first to get on base with a one-out single. He advanced to second on an error and one batter later, Okon drove him in with his record-tying double to left center. Jimmy Rivas then stepped to the plate and gave the Chargers a three-run cushion with a two-run homerun. The Charger defense converted a double play in the bottom of the 10th and sealed the UNH victory.
The Chargers recorded 12 hits and no errors, while the Hawks tallied seven hits and two errors in the game. Mitch Rossi earned his second win of the season in three and 2/3 innings pitched. He faced 13 batters, gave up two hits and threw two strikeouts. Chris Smith started on the mound for the Chargers and threw six and 1/3 innings. He faced 25 batters, gave up five hits and threw six strikeouts.
Okon led the Chargers offense with three hits, a RBI and a run scored. Kyle Donnelly and Cory Carr each recorded two hits, while Rivas led the team with his two RBI.
The Chargers return to action on Saturday, April 18 when they host Southern New Hampshire at Vieira Field for a doubleheader. Game time is set to start at 12 p.m.
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