April 18, 2006
Final Stats
NEW BRITAIN, Conn. - The Central Connecticut baseball team scored six unanswered runs, including two in the bottom of the ninth inning, to post its fourth straight victory, 7-6, over visiting Marist on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue Devils scored four runs in the sixth and two more in the ninth to erase a 6-1 deficit and win at home for the 10th time this season. With the victory the Blue Devils are 19-9 overall while Marist falls to 13-20 this season with the loss.
The Red Foxes struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on a pair of bases loaded walks by senior first baseman Kevin Grauer (Plain City, Ohio) and senior catcher Bryan Towler (Hampton, N.H.). Central Connecticut pitcher Hasani Franke faced eight batters in the frame and allowed one hit but walked in both runs. Franke pitched 4.1 innings allowing six runs, two earned, and striking out six but did not factor in the decision.
The Blue Devils got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the third cutting the Marist lead to 2-1. Freshman catcher Rad Welch and senior Seth Brown singled to lead off the inning against Marist freshman starter Josh Rickards (Glenolden, Pa.). Freshman centerfielder Richie Tri's sacrifice fly scored Welch to cut the lead to one. Rickards pitched 5.1 innings for the visitors allowing seven hits and five runs, he also did not factor in the decision.
Marist upped the lead to 6-1 with four unearned runs on one hit in the top of the fifth inning. Three Blue Devil errors in the inning led to the four runs. Freshman second baseman Kyle Meyer (East Greenbush, N.Y.) and Towler each had an RBI in the inning for the visitors.
Central Connecticut scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 6-5. The Blue Devils scored four runs on three hits and three walks by Marist pitching. Junior Sean Salvatore doubled to lead off the inning and scored on a single by sophomore Jay Schillaci. Junior John Romano walked followed by a single by junior Matt Memoli which loaded the bases. A walk to sophomore Garrett Walker scored one and a sacrifice fly from Welch cut the lead to 6-4. A double steal by Walker and Memoli allowed Memoli to score and make the score 6-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Blue Devils loaded the bases with no outs against Marist junior closer Robert Ryan (Roslindale, Mass.). A sacrifice fly by junior Adam Taha scored Tri who had singled to lead off the inning and tied the score at 6-6. With two outs, Memoli's liner to senior shortstop Andy Kiriakedes (Great Barrington, Mass.) was dropped, allowing the winning run to score and give the Blue Devils their fourth straight victory.
Brown had two hits for the Blue Devils while Tri, Schillaci, Taha, Walker and Welch all drove in a run in the win. The Blue Devils had nine hits but committed three errors in the field. The Red Foxes managed only six hits but got 13 walks from Bue Devils pitching. They left a total of 17 runnners on base in the one-run loss. They committed four errors in the loss.
The Red Foxes will face Army at 7 p.m. at Dutchess Stadium Wednesday. Admission is free. The Black Knights took the first game between the two teams by a score of 10-3 on April 6 at West Point, N.Y.
