May 26, 2006

Box Score

LAKEWOOD, NJ - Senior pitcher Chris Aldrich (Medway, MA) allowed just four hits over 8 2/3 and sophomore Jeff Hanson (Woodstock, NY) struck out the final batter of the game to lead the Sacred Heart University baseball team to a 4-0 win over Wagner College in the winner's bracket of the Northeast Conference Tournament on Friday afternoon. Aldrich struck out five and walked just one. The #4 seeded Pioneers advance to the championship game tomorrow at noon for a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The game will be available live on the internet.

The heavens opened up with heavy rain, thunder and lightening with two out in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a 50-minute rain delay, Aldrich came back out to try and finish the game. After retiring the first two batters, Aldrich gave up back-to-back hits to Nick Papa and Ed Sudol.

Head coach Nick Giaquinto lifted Aldrich in favor of Hanson, who had started the game as the designated hitter. Hanson got Andrew Huebner swinging for his first save of the season.

Pete Kandybowicz (Massapequa, NY) gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead in the sixth with a triple to right center that scored Tim Lantz (New Rochelle, NY) and Dave Kaloyanides (Reading, MA) who had both singled. Bobby McKee (Massapequa, NY) made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly that plated Kandybowicz.

Rob Tencza made it 4-0 with a homer to right in the seventh, his third homer of the season.

Aldrich struck out five and walked one, while yielding just four hits to even his record at 6-6.