It was a busy week for the New Haven baseball team, with a midweek matchup against the Hofstra University Pride and a weekend conference series against the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) Knights. The Chargers were unable to break the losing streak and lost all four games this week.
On Wednesday, New Haven hit the road to take on Hofstra University. The Chargers were able to score first, putting up two runs to start the game off an RBI single from first baseman Cam McGugan and a walk from third baseman EJ Ettinger with bases loaded. The Pride was quick to answer back, adding a run of their own in the bottom of the first, but the Chargers still held the lead. The second inning went scoreless, and then Hofstra tied the game after an RBI from Pride right fielder Nick Gallello.
New Haven took the lead back in the fifth after right fielder Shaun Callahan scored on a wild pitch, advancing the score to 3-2 just over halfway through the game. The sixth inning was big for Hofstra as they put up three runs to take the lead for the first time in the matchup, 5-3. The Chargers were unable to answer back before the Pride added two more runs to the deficit. Despite a last-ditch attempt in the eighth after New Haven pinch hitter Chase McNally brought in two runs off a single to center field, the Chargers fell hard in the bottom of the inning. A hitting party from the Pride resulted in eight runs being let in, which caused the game to end an inning early because Hofstra was up by 10. The game ended with a score of 15-5. McNally was the biggest help for the Chargers, with two RBIs off one hit.
New Haven hit the road again on Friday for a three-game conference series against FDU. Once again, the Chargers were able to score first after an RBI single from designated hitter, Jake Russo, brought in Callahan. The Knights were quick to answer and put up two runs in the bottom of the first off a two RBI double from their left fielder. The Chargers struggled to put another run across for the next four innings, but FDU did not step off the gas. The score was 10-1 going into the sixth inning. The Chargers were able to lessen the deficit by one after a sacrifice fly from substitute third baseman Clark Beattie brought home Callahan. The bottom of the sixth was the final blow as FDU put up seven more runs in the bottom of the sixth, ending game one at 17-2.
The Chargers went into game two of the series looking for a comeback, but fell short to the FDU Knights, 7-3. FDU scored first in the bottom of the second, with a quick answer back from New Haven center fielder Nick Ungania, who brought in third baseman Joe Frazzetta. Frazzetta also singled to center field in the bottom of the fourth, which brought home two runs and lessened the deficit to one. UNH was unable to score again, while the Knights brought in three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, which finalized the score of game two at 7-3.
New Haven continued to struggle in game three, with their only run coming off a solo home run from Callahan. FDU scored their only six runs in the second and third innings, and the last six innings of the game went scoreless on both sides. The game ended with a final score of 6-1, securing the sweep for the Knights.
With the losses, the Chargers are 1-14 on the season and 1-5 in conference play. The next game will take place on Tuesday at Sacred Heart University. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. For more information, please visit NewHavenChargers.com.
