Offense is not usually a common find in a midweek matchup between two non-conference opponents. Familiarity with each other is low and there are little to no expectations of what you will see. A one-game situation like this may not be a game that is circled on the calendar, but coming away with a win is just as important as every other game, especially when your team is ranked as a top-20 team in the country.

No matter the circumstances, the University of New Haven baseball team, who have climbed the national ranks to number 16 across the Division ll level this season, has continued to dominate teams at the plate and play with a lead, scoring 13 runs on Thursday afternoon against Caldwell University. The Chargers’ lineup has been firing on all cylinders this season, bringing their average runs per game up to 8.3.

New Haven put their pitching depth on full display, using six pitchers to keep Caldwell’s lineup quiet, allowing just three hits across the final five innings of the game to seal their 13-4 win. Senior right-handed pitcher Bryan Pazulski earned his second win of the season, firing a scoreless sixth inning with two strikeouts.

Caldwell broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning on a double from catcher Christopher Bayo, who came around to score on a single by Anthony Rossomando that gave the Cougars an early 2-0 lead.

New Haven’s red-hot offense cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the inning on a single by shortstop Kenneth Franquiz that brought right fielder Shaun Callahan around to score.

After a scoreless third from relief pitcher Michael Gatti, the Chargers struck again, tying the score at two. After a one-out walk from designated hitter Cole Maucere, left fielder Owen Pincince knocked a single through the left side, setting up a prime scoring chance with two runners in scoring position after advancing on the throw. A walk from catcher Josh Lester gave third baseman Matt McIntire an opportunity with the bases loaded, delivering an infield single that plated Maucere.

New Haven tacked on five more runs in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead, taking advantage of defensive miscues to break the game open. Franquiz led off the inning with a single, followed by a bunt single from second baseman Noah Budzik. First baseman Andrew Bianco reached on an error, setting up a bases loaded chance with no outs.

Maucere brought the first run around to score on a sacrifice fly to right field, as center fielder Robert Taylor singled to left field, bringing Budzik around to score and allowing Bianco to advance to third after Bayo’s second error of the inning. Pincince made it a three-run game on a groundout, forcing Caldwell to call on their second reliever of the game.

After Lester was hit by a pitch and stole second, Taylor scored on a wild pitch to stretch the lead to four. McIntire followed with another walk that got past Bayo, allowing Lester to score for the fifth and final run of the inning.

Caldwell responded with two runs in the fifth on a pair of RBI singles to make it a three-run game, but the Chargers scratched another run across in the bottom of the inning after taking advantage of another error on a double steal that allowed Callahan to score.

After Pazulski’s scoreless sixth, New Haven plated five more runs to add to their big lead with five hits and one walk in the inning. Taylor singled and stole second to lead off, coming around to score on a single by Lester. The big blow of the inning came off the bat of Budzik, who delivered a three-run triple to right field to set up another pitching change.

After a walk to Bianco, Budzik continued New Haven’s aggressive baserunning, stealing home on a double steal to cap off the inning and take a nine-run lead, which the bullpen would hold and give the Chargers their fourth straight win.

Now sitting at 19-5 on the season, New Haven holds the best record in the Northeast-10 going into their next doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 8 against Felician University. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Frank Vieira Field as the Chargers look to continue their impressive season. More information can be found at newhavenchargers.com.