West Haven, Conn. – Third baseman Jack Zagaja doubled home the winning run in the top of the 11th inning to give seventh-ranked University of New Haven a 2-1 victory over the 17th-ranked Le Moyne College baseball team on Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Southwest Division play at Frank Vieira Field.
The Dolphins served as the home team in the contest as the game was originally scheduled to be played in Syracuse, but was moved due to expected inclement weather on Saturday and Sunday.
Following six innings of scoreless action to start the game, in which neither team advanced a runner to third base, the Chargers took advantage of a Le Moyne error in the seventh to score the game's first run. Shortstop Tom Walraven singled through the left side to start the frame and Zagaja followed with a single through the right side. On a double play, in which Zagaja was retired at second, Walraven advanced to third and raced home on a throwing error on the first baseman, who was trying to thrown behind Walraven at third, but the throw was errant.
The Dolphins forced extras by scoring once in the ninth on two hits. Redshirt junior first baseman
Andrew Taft (Clinton, N.Y./Clinton/Buffalo) singled to left field with one out and was replaced at first by sophomore pinch-runner/left fielder
Justin Tuey (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston). Junior designated hitter
Nick Place (Towanda, Pa./Towanda) then drew a walk on six pitches and was replaced at first by freshman pinch-runner
Nick Spinella (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse). After a pitching change and a pop out, junior catcher
Camillo Spinoso (Syracuse, N.Y./Christian Brothers Academy/George Washington) singled through the left side to drive in Tuey with the tying run. Junior left fielder/right fielder
David DiNorcia (Naples, Fla./Seacrest Country Day) drew a walk to load the bases, but the next batter grounded out to end the inning.
The Chargers advanced a runner to third and the Dolphins got a runner to second in the 10th, but neither team was able to score.
New Haven plated the winning run in the top of the 11th. Designated hitter Rob Giovanelli was hit by a pitch to start the frame, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Walraven and then came around to score on a double to center by Zagaja. The Chargers threatened to add to their lead by loading the bases, but the next two batters were retired to end the inning.
The Dolphins went down in order in the 11th to end the game.
Senior righty
Alex Kubera (Dunkirk, N.Y./Dunkirk/Niagara Community College) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing one run over three innings out of the bullpen. Junior
Josiah Gray (New Rochelle, N.Y./New Rochelle) struck out seven over eight-plus innings in not receiving a decision after yielding just one unearned run. Brandon LaManna earned the win for the Chargers after recording five outs in relief of NE10 ERA-leader (0.61) David Palmer, who struck out nine over eight and one-third innings. Kellen Croce picked up his NE10-leading sixth save after retiring all three batters he faced in the 11th.
Le Moyne (22-8-1, 8-2-1 NE10, 4-1 SW) and the Chargers complete the three-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.
