Box Score NEW BRITAIN, Conn.— The Sacred Heart University baseball team battled back to force extra innings but ultimately couldn't hang on as Wagner College used a seven-run top of the 11th inning to take the series finale, 14-7.
The Pioneers (5-15, 1-4 NEC) tied the game up on two occasions, in the eighth inning, and down a run in the bottom of the 10th before the Seahawks (15-10, 5-1 NEC) put the game away in the 11th to earn the weekend series sweep at CCSU Baseball Field.
Wagner got on the board in the first inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Phil Capra. Both senior James Taubl and Neil Abbatiello were solid for the first four innings of play, allowing just five hits combined hits.
The Seahawks extended the lead in the top half of the fifth inning with three runs on three hits before adding one in the sixth to take a 5-0 lead.
SHU finally found its footing offensively in the bottom of the sixth as four straight hits including a RBI double by co-captain Cody Doyle, a RBI single by freshman Matt Sorrento and a RBI double by sophomore Jake Frasca cut the deficit to 5-3. Junior Kyle Oliver smacked a one-out home run over the right-field wall in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run ballgame.
Wagner pushed the lead back to two on a leadoff home run to Nick Mascelli in the top of the eighth inning off of Frasca. The Pioneers worked some one-out magic getting a single by Sorrento and double by Frasca to put runners in scoring position. Freshman Isiah Daubon came up clutch with a pinch-hit RBI single to cut it back to one run. The leadoff man, sophomore Stephen Thibault then sent his RBI single to left field to tie things up at 6-6.
The visitors scratched home a run in the top of the 10th inning on a sacrifice fly by Freddy Sabido. The Pioneers responded in the bottom half of the inning working second and third with one out. Sophomore Elijah Brown lifted the sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game once again.
The Seahawks put the game away in the top of the 11th with seven runs on four hits including a grand slam by Anthony Godino.
Eight Pioneers recorded hits in the finale as Sorrento and Frasca led the way with three each from the seventh and eighth spots in the lineup. Seven different Pioneers were represented in the runs scored and runs batted in column.
Taubl pitched five and two thirds in the start, allowing four earned runs while striking out four in the no-decision. Frasca pitched three-innings of relief allowing just one run on two hits with five strikeouts. Freshman Joe Greco dropped the decision in the 11th inning for SHU.
The Pioneers travel up to Hartford for a Tuesday afternoon matchup on April, 3. First pitch from Fiondella Field is set for 3:30 p.m.
