Box Score NORWICH, Conn. - Jason Foley threw Sacred Heart's second consecutive complete game two hitter, going the first 5.2 perfect, and the offense backed him with 19 hits, including a 4-5, two home run and five RBI day by Zack Short, as the Pioneers advanced to their seventh straight Northeast Conference Championship with a 10-0 shutout of Fairleigh Dickinson in the winner's bracket game on Friday afternoon at Dodd Stadium. Improving its record to 22-29-1, SHU will look for its fourth conference title in program history, and third in the past five years, tomorrow against the winner of FDU and Bryant at 4 pm. Those two will play at 12 pm and will need to defeat Sacred Heart twice to win the title. If necessary, the final second Championship game would take place on Sunday at 12 pm.
Before the hit that broke up the perfect game in the sixth, Foley had a streak of 12.1 innings without allowing a hit in the NEC Tournament. After three successive batters recorded base hits to open the 2014 Championship game against Bryant, he pitched the next 6.2 innings without giving up a hit. For Foley, it was the longest outing of his career, besting his outing from last weekend at Central Connecticut State, in which he went seven innings without allowing an earned run. Dating back to May ninth against Wagner, Foley has now thrown 18 innings without giving up an earned run over three outings. Perfect through those fist 17 batters, it was a Shane Siebler who singled up the middle with two outs in the sixth. The only other runner he allowed reach came in the seventh on a one out single by Riley Moonan. Foley struck out six without walking a batter and threw 101 pitches.
Sacred Heart gave Foley more than enough runs in the fourth, scoring four, all with two outs, to establish the early advantage. Ted Shaw walked to lead off and Cody Doyle singled with one out, but the two looked like they could be stranded as Kenny Byram came to the plate with two outs. Byram came through with a first pitch swinging single to left center though, scoring Shaw for the first run of the afternoon. Jayson Sullivan followed Byram's lead, also swinging at the first pitch and lining it down the left field line for a triple and 3-0 advantage. Jesus Medina extended that to four on the first pitch he saw, singling up the middle to cap the four run second. Short singled and Sorrento walked to load the bases, but FDU was able to escape unscathed thanks to a strikeout.
Short became the 15th player in tournament history with two home runs in a game, and was one hit and one RBI shy of the two other tournament records. In addition to Short, Medina, Byram, Sorrento, Shaw and PJ DeFilippo all had a multi hit game. Byram led SHU with three runs scored, adding a RBI and walk to a 3-4 performance, while Medina scored twice and drove in another.
The first of Short's homers, which came in the fourth, pushed the lead to six, scoring Medina who had walked to open the inning. Again it was Short adding to the advantage in the fifth, this time with a sacrifice fly, bringing home Byram who had singled to lead off the frame. Medina had singled with one out, advancing Byram to third for Short. After a FDU error made it 8-0 in the seventh, Short capped his day, along with the Sacred Heart offensive explosion, with a two run home run to left center, again plating Medina who had singled in the at bat before.
The Pioneers chased Fairleigh Dickinson (21-25) starter Joe Borelli with one out in the third inning, as he gave up four earned on seven hits and two walks. Ryan McGrath was pulled after .2 innings after Short's first home run, bringing in Jose DeLeon, who pitched three innings of one run ball on six hits. Anthony Calise and Yonah Perline each pitched an inning without giving up an earned run before Eric Snyder pitched the ninth.
Tournament Notes
The past two championships for the Pioneers, in 2011 and 202, the Sacred Heart pitching staff has put together three consecutive complete games.
In all three of Sacred Heart's conference championships, the Pioneers have gone 3-0.
The game was the first ever meeting between Sacred Heart and Fairleigh Dickinson in the NEC Tournament.
SHU has now won at least two games in eight consecutive tournaments appearances.
Sacred Heart has never won the tournament as a three seed, doing so twice as a two seed and once as a fourth.
SHU is now 7-2 all-time in the second game of the tournament.
