May 3, 2008

Box Score

TRUMBULL, CT - The Central Connecticut State baseball team got its second straight complete game thanks to a dominating effort by senior Matt Gianini and the Blue Devil offense scored four times in the final two innings to take a 4-1 win over Sacred Heart in the first game of a Northeast Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers squandered an opportunity in the bottom of the second when they loaded the bases with no one out against Gianini. Ryan Lynch led off with a bunt single and went to second on a single to center by Chris Whittemore. Steve Armato squared to bunt and reached when his ball that trickled down the third base line couldn't be handled by Central catcher Sean Parker. Gianini then struck out Paul Schmidt and Mike Drowne. He got Matt Fitton to ground to third to end the threat.

Central Connecticut, 18-19 overall and in second in the NEC at 12-6, did the same in the top of the fourth. Pat Epps and Tommy Meade started the frame with consecutive singles. SHU starter Jack Wagoner then hit Kyle Zarotney with a pitch to load the bases. Wagoner got Sean Parker and Sean Miller-Jones on shallow flies to right, and then struck out Sean Allaire to get out of the jam.

Sacred Heart took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. With Matt Fitton on first and two outs, Gianini committed a balk on a pickoff throw to first to put him on second. Phil Tantillo delivered an RBI single to left for the first run of the game.

The Blue Devils answered with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Zarotney led off with a bunt single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. He went to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI single to center by Sean Allaire. After Wagoner walked Anthony Scialdone to put two on, head coach Nick Giaquinto lifted him in favor of Ryan Lynch. Lynch threw a wild pitch to allow both runners to advance and Zak Kidd made it hurt with a single to center that scored both runs to give Central a 3-1 lead.

Central tacked on an insurance run in the seventh off reliever Chris Zaccherio on a two-out RBI single Parker.

Gianini pushed his record to 6-3 win the complete-game win. He struck out seven without issuing a walk. Wagoner fell to 2-6 with the loss.