(04-25-09) WEST HAVEN, Conn - The University of New Haven split a doubleheader with visiting Franklin Pierce University on Saturday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. The Chargers dropped game one, 12-4, before coming back to win game two by the score of 5-3. New Haven moves to 18-17 overall and 14-13 in the Northeast-10 Conference, and Franklin Pierce is now 28-15 overall and 19-6 in the conference.
Game One
In the bottom of the 2nd, Cory Carr and Kyle Donnelly started the inning with back-to-back singles before Kyle Pettoruto's RBI single up the middle brought home Carr from second base to give the Chargers the early 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Kyle Bombace reached on an infield single to load the bases with one out, but Franklin Pierce induced a strikeout and ground out to get out of the jam without further damage.
The Chargers put their first two runners on base in the bottom of the 4th inning but again left them on base, which would come back to hurt them as the Ravens put together a two-out, four-run rally in the 6th inning to take a 4-1 lead.
The Ravens chased starter T.J. Phelan with two outs in the top of the 7th and found success against the Chargers' bullpen, scoring five runs on four hits to take a commanding 9-1 advantage.
After Franklin Pierce scored three more in the top of the 8th, the Chargers pushed across one in the bottom of the inning on a RBI single by Kyle Bombace; however, New Haven also left the bases loaded for the second time. The Chargers left 14 runners on base in game one.
The Chargers tallied 15 hits - all singles - in the first game compared to 12 hits for the Ravens.
Donnelly and Tom Rombilus both finished with three hits and one run scored to lead the team. Phalen was charged with the loss after giving up five earned runs and striking out eight over 6.2 innings.
Game Two
The first three innings of the second game went scoreless, but the Ravens jumped ahead in the top of the 4th when they strung together a pair of hits to take a 1-0 lead.
The Chargers bounced back to take the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning when they put their first three runners on base, and Rombilus singled to right field to tie the game at 1-1. Ryan Brockett reached on a RBI fielder's choice, and Evan Okon hit a sacrifice to put New Haven in front 3-1. The Chargers pushed across one more when Rombilus stole third base and advanced home as the throw went into left field.
In the bottom of the 7th, New Haven added a run on a sacrifice fly by Carr that scored Okon give the team a 5-1 lead, but in the top of the 8th, the Ravens got to relief pitcher Mitch Rossi for a pair of runs before he got out of a jam with a 5-3 lead still intact.
The Ravens put on two runners with one out in the top of the 9th, but Rossi forced a line out and a put up on back-to-back batters to secure the two run victory for the Chargers.
Rossi improved to 4-0 on the season after pitching 4.1 innings in relief. Okon finished 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI, while Bombace also went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
The Chargers return to action on Tuesday, April 28 when they take on Merrimack College at Frank Vieira Field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Box Score - Game One
Box Score - Game Two
