In game one of a doubleheader with American International College, the New Haven Chargers baseball team fell short, losing 13-7 in an offensive slugfest. The bats started off slow for the Chargers, but their late comeback was not enough to overcome their early deficit.

Starting on the mound for New Haven was freshman Liam Carroll. He struggled early in the top of the first, giving up a two-run single to AIC catcher Michael Nazzaro, who was later brought around to score on a groundout by Kiernan Caffrey.

In the bottom of the first, outfielder Tyler Wells picked up right where he left off the day before, working a long at-bat resulting in a walk. He eventually scored on a groundout by senior Andrew Cain and cut AIC’s lead to two.

The game would remain at 3-1 until the bottom of the third when Cain would bring in Wells to score for the second time on a groundout, cutting the Chargers’ deficit to one. New Haven attempted to get themselves back in the game after falling behind early, but AIC would continue to command the field.

AIC scratched three runs across in the top of the fourth inning to stretch their lead by four. Yellow Jackets second baseman Alexander Morse brought in the first run with a bunt single that was managed to sneak by Carroll. Shortstop Angel Mendez would then bring across the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it a 5-2 game. After loading the bases, Carroll walked Nazzaro to bring in another run.

Carroll’s day ended after four innings, allowing six runs and five strikeouts. Senior Gary Costello came out of the bullpen in relief of Carroll, but AIC’s bats stayed hot in the top of the fifth; an RBI single by Angel Mendez made it a 7-2 game. The big blow of the game came from Jackson Haker, who hit a long three-run home run to left-center field to bring the score to 10-2.

Costello would settle in for his second inning of relief, keeping the deficit at eight. He was able to work strand a baserunner to get out of the inning. The Chargers brought in freshman Christian De Risi to pitch the seventh. De Risi gave up three runs to give AIC a 13-2 lead. Nazzaro brought in the first two, with a double down the left-field line, and would eventually score on a passed ball that got by catcher Aaron Soucy. De Risi was able to get two strikeouts to get out of the inning.

New Haven’s bats were able to come alive in the bottom of the seventh, when they brought across five runs. Designated hitter Brett Reedy started the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored on a single by Wells. Second baseman Noah Budzik followed Wells with a single of his own, bringing to the plate center fielder Robert Taylor, who drilled a two-run double to deep center field to score Wells and Budzik. Andrew Cain brought in another run after reaching on a throwing error by Mendez. First baseman Andrew Bianco then followed him with a double to score Cain. Soucy flew out to end the game at 13-7.

With the loss, New Haven fell to 19-15 (4-10 NE10) and brought AIC to 9-26 (3-13 NE10).

More information can be found at newhavenchargers.com.