Baseball Rallies by UMES in NEC Opener

The Central Connecticut State baseball team rallied for an 11-7 win against Maryland-Eastern Shore in the NEC opener for both schools on Saturday. The Blue Devils scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to complete a comeback from a five-run deficit after the first two innings.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 11, UMES 7
Pitching Record: W:  Christon (1-0) | L:  Torres (0-2) | Save: - -
Records: CCSU (2-2, 1-0 NEC), UMES (1-10, 0-1 NEC)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• UMES would have its first five hitters of the game reach base safely. Julian Jiminez and Jonathan Gonzalez each drove in runs to make it 2-0. The bases were loaded with no outs, but a hard liner was caught by CCSU's Brandon O'Neill, who stepped on third and threw to first to catch runners off the bags and turn a triple play to get out of the inning without further damage.
• The Hawks tacked on three runs in the second inning, doing all of their damage with two outs. With one run already across, four straight walks would force in two more runs to make it 5-0.
• Central would get on the board in the third inning after Gianno Merlonghi took advantage of two errors to get to third base. Antonio Ducatelli would single to drive him in and make it 5-1.
• CCSU got two more runs in the fourth inning, with Gabe Pitts starting things by beating out an infield bunt. After a single by O'Neill, Chris Barkasy and Merlonghi would each drive in a run with singles of their own to make it 5-3.
• UMES would add to its lead with RBI-hits in the fifth and seventh innings to make it 7-3.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Frankie Ferrentino hit a one-out single before moving to third on a double by Louis Jordan. Matt Graziose would ground out to shortstop, but drove in a run to make it 7-4.
• In the eighth inning, O'Neill walked to lead off. He moved to second on a balk before advancing to third on a fly out. Another balk would allow him to come home before a line out would record the second out of the inning. Merlonghi would extend the inning with a walk and be the first of seven straight Blue Devils to reach base. Ferrentino would double in two runs to tie the game before Graziose poked a drive down the line in right field and plate two runs to make it 9-7. Pitts and O'Neill followed with RBIs of their own to push the lead to 11-7.
• UMES loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but Richie Kerstetter would get a called third strike to end the game.

NOTES

• Zach Worzel and Niko Christon combined to toss 6.1 innings in relief, allowing just two runs on four hits. They each struck out two batters, while Christon earned credit for the win.
• Graziose had a team-high three RBIs.
• Merlonghi, Ducatelli and Ferrentino each had two hits at the top of the CCSU lineup, combining to go 6-for-13 with five runs scored and four RBIs.
• Pitts and O'Neill each had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.
• CCSU has won 10 straight matchups in the series and is 30-0-1 all-time.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils and Hawks play at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.

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