WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The University of New Haven baseball team played a doubleheader against American International College

Sunday afternoon at Frank Vieira Field. The Chargers won the opening game 14-10, while the team’s played to a 2-2 tie in the nightcap which was suspended due to rain and field conditions. The Chargers improved to 12-6-1 overall and 1-1-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division, while the Yellow Jackets fell to 6-11-1 overall and 1-5-1 in the NE-10 Southwest Division.

Game One

The Chargers and Yellow Jackets opened the doubleheader with a combined 33 hits and 24 runs. The Chargers began scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Zach Collett (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) hit a solo homerun over the left field fence. The freshman’s homer sparked an eight run, seven hit inning. Stephen Clout (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) hit a three-RBI triple to left center to give the Chargers a 4-0 lead. Cory Carr (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial), Collett and Andrew Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) each added RBI later in the inning to put UNH ahead 8-0 after two.

AIC answered with five runs off five hits in the top of the third inning. New Haven added two runs off a two hits in the bottom of the third. Chris DeMorais (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) hit a double down the right field line to put the Chargers ahead by five, 10-5, after three.  New Haven’s pitching and defense held the Yellow Jackets scoreless in the top of the fourth and fifth innings, while UNH added four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tim Geer (Derby, Conn./Derby) hit an infield single and a number of AIC errors scored Brendan O’Reilly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) from second and Geer made his way home after an errant throw by the first baseman. Clout and Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford ) also drove in runs to give the Chargers a 14-5 lead after five innings.

The Yellow Jackets added one run in the top of the sixth inning and four runs off three hits and one UNH error in the top of the eighth inning.

Clout led the Chargers with four RBI and three runs. He went 4-for-6 at the plate and only needed a homerun to hit the cycle. Collett hit his first collegiate homerun and went 2-for-4 at the plate. The freshman drove in two runs and scored another two. In his first collegiate start, Geer also went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs in the win. Brockett went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run, while Andrew Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) posted two hits, two RBI and one run.

On the mound, Taylor Candage (Portland, Maine/Deering) pitched three innings and allowed five runs. He struck out four and walked two batters. Frank Vilacha (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) earned the win in three innings of relief pitching. He struck out three, walked one and allowed one run. John Melville (Ulster Park, N.Y./Kingston) and Derek Drag (South Meriden, Conn./O.H. Platt) also made relief appearances and closed out the win in the last three innings for UNH.

Game Two

In the nightcap, the team’s opened with four scoreless innings. The Chargers best opportunity in the opening four innings came in the bottom of the second inning. UNH loaded the bases off three hits with one out, but a strikeout and fielder’s choice kept the game scoreless.

The Yellow Jackets left one runner on base in the third, fourth and fifth innings, but could not capitalize. The Chargers scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Clout opened the inning with a single to left field, while Cory Carr (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) followed with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. On the same play, Clout advanced to third and eventually scored after the AIC first baseman threw a ball over the reach of third base.

In the top of the sixth, AIC’s leadoff batter hit a double down the left field line to put the game-tying run in scoring position. The runner stole third and with one out, was thrown at the plate by Johnson. The Chargers got out of the inning and maintained a 1-0 lead.

Collett led off the sixth inning with a walk and followed by stealing second base with no outs. The freshman advanced to third on a passed ball and later scored off another passed ball to give the Chargers a 2-0 lead.

The Yellow Jackets immediate put runners on first and second base in the top of the seventh inning. A double steal by AIC and the runners were on second and third with no outs. The Yellow Jackets hit a ground out, before a single to left field drove in AIC’s first run of the game. Another run was scored off a sacrifice fly to left field, evening the score at 2-2.

Both teams had scoring opportunities in the eighth inning, but neither could capitalize. The Chargers’ defense kept the score tied as center fielder Brendan O’Reilly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) threw a rocket to Joe Romanelli (Baldwin, N.Y./Holy Trinity) to catch the go ahead run at home plate. In the ninth, New Haven’s closing pitcher Peter Jay (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) retired the side and pushed the game to the bottom of the ninth tied at 2-2. The Chargers put one runner on base in the bottom of the ninth, but extra inning were needed as the game remained tied after nine full innings.

The Chargers again retired the side in the top of the 10th inning behind Jay’s pitching. In the bottom of the 10th, the Chargers managed one base runner, but could not score a run. The rain continued to fall at Vieira Field and the field conditions deteariorated into the 10th inning. It eventually became unplayable as the game was called prior to the 11th inning.

O’Reilly led the Chargers with two hits, while Clout and Collett scored the Chargers two runs, both which were unearned. Pat Simone (Branford, Conn./Branford) pitched six 1/3 innings and struckout six. He walked just one and gave up two runs. Eric Peck (East Hampton, Conn./East Hampton) and Jay combinded for the final three 2/3 innings. Jay posted two strikeouts in six batters faced.

The Chargers will return to action in another Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Divisional game at Southern Connecticut State University on Tuesday, April 3. Game time at the Ballpark at SCSU is set for 3:30 p.m. For complete coverage, stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com.