The Chargers opened a four-game week with a single game against the University of Bridgeport Purple Knights, followed by a weekend series against the Norfolk State University Spartans. After taking the win over Bridgeport, New Haven lost the series against the Spartans despite a comeback win in game three.
Wednesday’s game saw high offensive action from the Chargers as they put up five runs in the first two innings. Designated hitter Jake Russo brought in the first two off a two-run homer in the first inning. In the second inning, a single from first baseman Cam McGugan brought home second baseman EJ Ettinger. Shortstop Aedan Forde stole home after a walk from center fielder Nick Ungania, followed by another walk from right fielder Shaun Callahan that brought in McGugan. Down by five, the Purple Knights chipped away at the deficit and added two runs in the top of the third after a solo home run and an RBI single. New Haven continued to extend their lead, putting up one run each in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. With one run unearned, RBIs were accredited to McGugan and Callahan. Bridgeport added two more runs in the top of the seventh, which the Chargers matched in the bottom of the inning after substitute first baseman Bobby Herzman scored on a wild pitch, followed by an RBI single from Russo. Bridgeport was unable to put up another run, while the Chargers scored one more in the bottom of the eighth, which finalized the score at 12-4.
Coming off the win, New Haven traveled to Virginia to face Norfolk State looking to stay in the win column. Game one was a close matchup, but the Chargers fell short, 9-7. Ungania scored the first run of the game off a passed ball in the top of the first, giving the Chargers an early lead. The Spartans answered back with three runs in the second, followed by one run for each team in the third inning. Callahan brought home the run for the Chargers off an RBI single to right field. Down by two, New Haven was able to tie the score in the fourth after a solo homerun from left fielder Matt McIntire followed by an RBI double from McGugan. The score remained tied until the Spartans broke open the scoring and put up 5 runs in the eighth inning. The Chargers went into the final inning down by five, and despite a last minute three-run comeback attempt, it wasn’t enough to take back the lead. Callahan was accredited for all three RBIs after sending one over the right field fence with Russo and Ungania on base.
The score of game two was even closer, with Norfolk State coming out on top by just one run. The Spartans started the scoring with two runs in the first inning, but the Chargers took back the lead with a big second inning, with RBIs from Ungania, McGugan and Callahan. New Haven stayed on the gas and extended their lead by three with RBI doubles from Herzman and Ungania, and an RBI single from Forde in the top of the third. Norfolk State chipped away with one run in the bottom of the third, and a scoreless fourth inning left the Chargers up by four going into the fifth. The score was tied with just one hit after New Haven starting pitcher James Reilly loaded the bases on walks, followed by a left-center grand slam that tied the score at seven. The Spartans took the lead with one run in the seventh, and the Chargers tied it back up in the eighth with an RBI single from second baseman Joe Frazzetta. Neither team scored in the ninth, which led the game into an extra tenth inning, in which Norfolk State took the win walk off style after an RBI single with the bases loaded.
The Chargers went into game three looking for a comeback and came out swinging in the first two innings. Russo opened up the scoring by taking home on a wild pitch, followed by RBI singles from Frazzetta, Ettinger and Forde in the first inning. Designated hitter Casey Cerruto brought in one more off a ground out to third that brought in Russo, and then Callahan reached home on an error which led the Chargers to an early 6-0 lead. The Spartans lessened the deficit by putting up three unearned runs in the fourth inning, but New Haven remained unphased and answered back with a six-run fifth inning. Russo started the scoring once again with a triple that brought home Ungania and McGugan, followed by an RBI single from Cerruto and a two RBI double from McIntire. Down by 10 runs, the Spartans put up their fourth and final run in the seventh. The Chargers brought in two more runs in the eighth after a solo homer from McGugan and another RBI single from Cerruto to finalize the score at 15-4.
The Chargers now have an overall record of 6-25 and a 5-13 record in conference play. The next game is on Tuesday at 3 p.m. against the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. For more information, visit NewHavenChargers.com.
