Infielder Sean Allaire hit a grand slam in the second inning during CCSU’s win against the Seahakws on Friday.
By Kenny Barto
CCSU baseball came away with three important conference wins against a tough conference foe in the Wagner Seahawks. The three wins give the Blue Devils sole position of third place going into the final weekend of conference play.
CCSU’s success started on Friday with a 10-5 victory over Wagner. CCSU infielder and Northeast Conference batting leader Sean Allaire led the offense, going 3-for-5 with five RBI, including his second grand slam in as many weekends which now leaves him with a season total of 12 home runs.
The Blue Devils picked up where they left off in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday, topping Wagner 7-1. Junior southpaw Dave Krasnowiecki improved his record to 6-2 by going all seven innings, giving up six hits and one earned run while striking out five. Krasnowiecki was one out away from a shutout, and had only given up four hits going into the seventh inning.
“Krasnoweicki pitched great for us,” said CCSU head coach Charlie Hickey. “He hit his spots, got the tough outs, and was just shy of having a shutout. You can’t ask for much more than that.”
In game two, CCSU could not rebound from Wagner’s three-run first inning and they lost 7-5. Starter Jack Greenhouse, who had pitched solid his last three outings, went only three innings, giving up five runs.
“I think Greenhouse was banged up a little bit,” said Hickey. “He didn’t pitch like he has the last few times out there, but he’ll get a full week’s rest and hopefully be alright to go against LIU.”
Pat Epps homered in both games of the doubleheader, giving him 16 on the season, which ties the single season record at CCSU.
“He has a legitimate chance to set the record,” said Hickey. “But, I still think he understands that winning comes first.”
The home run record has been in place since 1997, when Jamie Palmese hit 16 for the Blue Devils under coach George Redman.
CCSU entered play on Sunday ahead of Wagner by one game in the NEC standings, and needed a win to give them some breathing room. The Blue Devils did not disappoint, as they fought back from a deficit yet again to beat Wagner 5-3.
After getting two quick outs in the first, starting pitcher Tommy Meade led up a double and a single to yield the game’s first run. Wagner then loaded the bases with a base hit, and a walk. Meade quickly recovered however, as he struck out Wagner’s Tommy Higgins to limit the first inning damage to one.
The Blue Devils did not answer until the third inning. Kyle Zarotney was hit by a pitch, and advanced to second when Danny Hickey singled to right field. Another base hit through the right side by Sean Miller-Jones scored Zarotney, tying the game at 1-1.
Wagner answered with one run on two hits in the fourth, but CCSU was able to answer yet again in their half of the inning. Mitch Wells drew a base on balls, and promptly stole second. Wells was then advanced to third on a ground out by Meade, and was brought home on an Anthony Scialdone single up the middle to tie the game at two.
After shutting down Wagner in the top of the fifth, CCSU took their first lead in the bottom half. Catcher Hickey went opposite field, keeping it just inside the foul pole for his second homer of the year to give the Blue Devils a 3-2 lead.
Wagner tied the game in the seventh on a Nick Martutartus single with one out. The Seahawks eventually loaded the bases. With senior reliever Donny White on the mound, right fielder Kevin McDonnell hit a slow dribbler between home plate and the pitchers mound. White charged the ball, barehanded it, and gave a quick underhand throw to Hickey at the plate, which jut forced out Martutartus.
“That was his only play, and he knew it,” said coach Hickey. “It was an incredibly close play, but fortunately it went our way, and it saved the game.”
With the game tied going into the seventh, Meade led off the inning with a double to right center field, and eventually advanced to third on a wild pitch. Scialdone grounded out, and Zarotney walked, which brought up Hickey. He came through for the second time in the game with an important fly ball to right field, which was deep enough to score Meade easily. CCSU added another run on an error by Wagner third baseman Higgins.
Wagner was able to get a runner on base in the eighth on a dropped third strike that got away from Hickey. CCSU bounced back with an important double play turned by Allaire and Miller-Jones to end the inning.
White let up a double with one out in the ninth, but bounced back by getting Vin Avella to fly out, and struck out Jon Lucas on a high fastball to end the game.
Allaire was strong for CCSU yet again in the series, batting .438 with six RBI and four runs scored. In the final game of the series, Allaire assisted on 10 plays in the field and did not have an error.
“I don’t know where he’s going to go or where he’s going to fit in,” coach Charlie Hickey said. “But, I do know he can play at the next level, and he belongs on a baseball field.”
CCSU will face Long Island in their final conference match up this weekend before the NEC tournament. CCSU is 26-19 overall, with a 15-13 conference record. They currently sit behind Sacred Heart (19-9) and Bryant (22-6) in the conference standings.
“Overall we’ve had a pretty good season,” said Hickey. “Even though the kids have final exams this week, I think they know what they have to do, and I think we’ll finish off strong.”
