BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (May 6, 2023) – As was the case on Friday, a big inning in the middle of the game made the difference for the Sacred Heart University baseball team at Veterans Park on Saturday afternoon. The Pioneers utilized a six-run bottom of the fifth to break a 3-3 tie and carry on to a 9-4 victory over visiting Delaware State in Northeast Conference play. Tyler Galletti (Plainview, N.Y.) had his first career four-hit game (4-for-5) and drove in a pair, while left-hander Michael Attonito (White Plains, N.Y.) logged a season-best 4.1 innings out of the bullpen and struck out a career-high seven to pick up the win.
The win secured a victory in the weekend series for SHU (20-25, 15-11 NEC), which will look for the three-game sweep in Sunday's series finale at noon at Veterans Park. The Pioneers reduced their magic number to clinch a postseason berth to any combination of four wins or Merrimack losses. The Warriors kept pace on Saturday, with a 5-1 win over Norfolk State.
Sacred Heart staked itself to an early 3-0 lead on Saturday, before Delaware State (10-30, 6-17) rallied to tie the game with three in the top of the fifth. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out for Trey Paige, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left-center to get the Hornets on the board. Another flyout and a stolen base put runners at second and third with two outs, and right-hander Jack Kramer (Glen Rock, N.J.) got a ground ball which could have ended the inning, but third baseman Tim McGuire (Portsmouth, R.I.) threw the ball away to prolong the frame and allow a run to score.
Nick Gnardellis was next and lashed an RBI single to left field to tie the game, which spelled the end of the afternoon for Kramer, who was charged with three runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks, to go with five strikeouts over 4.2 innings. Attonito came on and struck out Brady Daniels to end the threat, then went the rest of the way. Over 4.1 innings, Attonito (2-2) allowed just one unearned run on four hits, did not issue a walk and struck out a career-best seven.
The Pioneers responded immediately, with a six-spot of their own in the home half of the fifth to take control, all after there were two outs and nobody on. Galletti got things started with an innocent single back through the middle, but then lumbered all the way around to score when Zack Kovalchik (Archbald, Pa.) hammered a double into the power alley in left-center to give SHU the lead for good. Dante D'Amore (Southington, Conn.) was next and made it a two-run lead with a single through the left side, which chased right-hander Nathan Vidmar from the mound. Vidmar (0-6) ceded six runs on nine hits and a walk, with just one strikeout, over 4.2 innings.
Right-hander Evan Harris took over and poured gasoline on the fire, as he uncorked a wild pitch, walked a batter, and then allowed a pinch-hit, RBI single through the left side by Joe Emerson (Carlstadt, N.J.) to make it 6-3. Another wild pitch brought home another run, before Sam Mongelli (Marlboro, N.Y.) made it an even half-dozen in the inning with a two-run single through the left side.
Delaware State would pick up a run in the ninth on an RBI single by Paige, but could get no closer, as SHU claimed the 9-4 victory.
