April 6, 2007

Box Score

NEW BRITAIN, CT - Senior Rob Tencza (Meriden, CT) pitched a complete game in the nightcap of a doubleheader Friday to help the Sacred Heart baseball team salvage a split with Central Connecticut State University. The Pioneers won game two behind Tencza, 5-3, but dropped game one 4-3 when the SHU defense committed five errors.

Senior Jay Monti (Marlboro, NY) started the opener for the Pioneers and held a 3-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. He issued a leadoff walk to BK McLaughlin and then Frank Bainer committed an error on a bunt by Richie Tri, putting runners on second and third. Sean Salvatore then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate the tying run. Jay Schillaci drove home the winning run with a triple.

Monti, 4-2, allowed just two earned runs and six hits. He struck out four and walked three. Bainer led the Pioneer offense with three hits, while Jason Maiella drove home a pair of runs with a double.

In game two, SHU took a 4-1 lead with a three-run third. Freshman Steve Tedesco led off with a walk and scored on a double by Jovan Rodriguez. Bobby McKee plated Rodriquez with a single up the middle. The third run scored on a sacrifice fly by Pete Kandybowicz.

Tencza, 2-2, allowed nine hits and three runs in notching his first complete game of the season. He struck out one and walked two.

The split gives the Pioneers a 9-14 overall mark and a 1-2 record in the NEC. Central is now 10-5 and 2-1. The two teams complete the four-game series tomorrow at 12 noon.