Baseball Falls to Wagner in Extras on Saturday

The Central Connecticut State baseball team fell to Wagner in extra-innings on Saturday in the NEC series finale in New Britain, CT. The Blue Devils were held scoreless over the final six innings, while the Seahawks rallied with two runs in the ninth and won the game with three runs in the 10^th.

Louis Jordan and Matt Graziose each had three hits for Central as the Blue Devils had 15 hits as a team.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score:  CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 13, WAGNER 16 (10 innings)
Pitching Record: W: Davis (1-1) | L: Christon (2-1) | Save: Mazzotta (2)
Records: CCSU (8-13, 6-9 NEC), Wagner (10-11, 9-6 NEC)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• The Blue Devils scored four runs in each of the opening three innings. After Wagner scored two runs in the top of the first, CCSU would have six straight batters reach safely in the bottom of the inning. Gianno Merlonghi, Michael Quiros, Matt Graziose and Owen Arias each drove in runs to make it 4-2.
• In the second inning, the first three Blue Devils reached base to load the bags with no outs. Nick Fox followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in a run and was followed by Gianno Merlonghi hitting a groundball up the middle that was misplayed, allowing two more runs to score. With two outs, Graziose singled to left field to drive in Merlonghi and push the lead to 8-2.
• With one out in the third inning, CCSU would notch six straight hits. Louis Jordan and Fox drove in runs on back-to-back singles and Merlonghi drove in another on a double. After a pitching change, Quiros singled to drive in a run and expand the lead to 12-2.
• Brendan McLoughlin hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth for Wagner before Fox doubled home Jordan in the bottom of the frame making it 13-4 after four innings.
• Wagner would erupt for six runs on six hits in the top of the fifth inning. After a foul fly to start the inning, the Seahawks would load the bases and Matt Sutera hit a two-run single. After a pitching change and a fly out, three straight singles drove in three more runs to make it 13-9. Following another pitching change, one more single by the Seahawks drove in a run to make it a three-run game.
• An error to open the sixth would allow the leadoff batter to reach for Wagner. A single would move runners to the corners before a sacrifice fly by Sutera cut the lead to 13-11.
• In the ninth, a pair of singles and a ground out would put runners in scoring position with two outs. Nicholas Mazzotta would extend the game, delivering a single to centerfield to drive in a pair and make it 13-13.
• In the top of the 10^th, Sutera hit a one-out double. After a pitching change, he moved to third on a groundout before a misplayed flyball allowed him to score the go-ahead run. A single would follow to put runners on the corners and Jayden Alvarez doubled to push the lead to 16-13.
• A pair of walks and a hit batter would load the bases for CCSU with no outs in the bottom of the 10^th. Mazzotta would recover by getting two strikeouts and a flyball to end the game.

NOTES

• Jordan finished 3-for-6 with four runs scored and an RBI.
• Graziose went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while also drawing two walks.
• Merlonghi had two hits, three RBIs and two runs.
• Fox reached base four times with two hits, two runs and three RBIs.
• CCSU is 78-43 in the series all-time.

UP NEXT

• The Blue Devils are back at home against St. John's on Tuesday

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