LANTANA, Fla. – The University of New Haven baseball team defeated American International College 6-0 Friday morning in its final game of the 2012 spring break trip to Florida. The game was also considered a non-conference game for record purposes. The Chargers improved to 7-4 on the season, while the Yellow Jackets dropped to 5-5 on the season.
The Chargers got on the board in the bottom of the first inning when Ryan Brockett (Guilford, Conn./Guilford ) drove in Stephen Clout (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) who opened the inning by getting hit by a pitch. The Chargers carried the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning when they earned another two runs off three hits and one error. Clout drew a two-out bases-loaded walk to improve the lead to 2-0 before Andrew Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) hit a two-out RBI-single to give UNH a 3-0 lead.
In New Haven’s half of the sixth inning, Brendan O’Reilly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) hit a two-out RBI single to drive in Zach Collett (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) and give the Chargers a 4-0 lead. The Chargers managed one more hit and loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but couldn’t score additional runs. New Haven would seal the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with another two hits and two runs. Brendon Buckley (Monroe, Conn./Masuk) opened the inning with a double and then Collett drove him in with a one-out RBI-single. O’Reilly later stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Cory Carr (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Memorial) for the Chargers’ final run.
Frank Vilacha (Dartmouth, Mass./Dartmouth) stepped on to the mound in the fifth inning and earned the win for the Chargers. Henry Hirsch (Scarsdale, N.Y./Scarsdale) threw the first four innings and allowed donly three hits, while striking out two. Derek Drag (South Meriden, Conn./O.H. Platt) and Eric Peck (East Hampton, Conn./East Hampton) also provided relief efforts for UNH in the shutout.
Freshman Zach Collett (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook) led the New Haven bats with four hits in four at-bats. He also scored two runs and drove in one run from the DH position. Andrew Johnson (Branford, Conn./Branford) went 2-for-4 with one RBI and Brendan O’Reilly (Devon, Pa./Conestoga) went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. #Stephen Clout added one hit, one run and one RBI as well.
New Haven will return to action on Wednesday, March 21 when it hosts Post University at Frank Vieira Field for its home opener. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. For complete coverage, stay posted to www.NewHavenChargers.com.
