NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (April 6, 2023) – With 10 hits on the road against the league's first-place team, one would hope to come away with more than just two runs. It was not in the cards for the Sacred Heart University baseball team at CCSU Baseball Field on Thursday afternoon though. The Pioneers hit into three double plays and left 10 men on base, en route to a 5-2 loss in the opener of a three-game Northeast Conference series at Central Connecticut State. Sam Mongelli (Marlboro, N.Y.) went 3-for-5 with a homer and two doubles in defeat.
CCSU (16-5, 12-1 NEC) got all the runs it would need with a three-spot in the last of the first. With runners at first and second and one out, things got a little weird, as cleanup hitter Ramon Jimenez hit a line drive straight back to the mound. Right-hander Jake Babuschak (Jobstown, N.J.) nearly made a highlight-reel, behind-the-back snag, but instead deflected the ball back in the direction of home plate with his glove. Catcher Joey Skarad (Stamford, Conn.) was on the scene quickly, and still had a chance for a force play at third base, but threw the ball into left field instead, which allowed the first run to score.
The play ultimately ended with runners at second and third base, and the next batter would cash them both in, as Jeff Nicol dumped a two-run single into right field to make it 3-0.
SHU (13-13, 8-5 NEC) got one back in the top of the third, when Mongelli led off the frame with his second home run in as many games. His team-leading seventh of the campaign was estimated at 385 feet to the power alley in left-center.
The Blue Devils tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. With runners at first and second and nobody out, Dan Hussey hit a possible double-play ball to first base, but Robert Farruggio (Fairfield, Conn.) was unable to handle it and a run came around to score. Hunter Pasqualini was next and hit a grounder to second that Ryan Donnelly (Fairfield, Conn.) and Mongelli converted into a double play, but the inning's second run scored on the play.
The Pioneers got another run in the top of the ninth and got the tying run to the on-deck circle, but no closer. Mongelli yanked a two-out double down the left-field line and scored when Justin Jordan (Darien, Conn.) followed and lashed an RBI single into left field.
Babuschak (1-3) rebounded after the tough first inning to log 6.2 on the mound, but ran out of steam in the seventh. He was ultimately charged with five runs (three earned) on seven hits, walked two and struck out four.
Left-hander Dominic Niman (6-0), the NEC's leader in ERA, tossed the first seven innings for CCSU. He scattered eight hits, allowed one run, walked three, hit two batters and struck out six. Blue Devil pitching recorded 11 strikeouts in total on the afternoon.
The two teams will meet on Friday and Saturday, both at 1 p.m. in New Britain, to round out the series.
