Baseball Walks Off With a Win in the 10th Against Wagner

The Central Connecticut State baseball team opened its weekend NEC series with a 10-9 win in 10 innings over Wagner on Thursday in New Britain, CT. Nico Christon got the win in relief, while Nick Fox and Danny Witters each drove in two runs to power the lineup.

GAME INFORMATION | BOX SCORE
Score: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 10, Wagner 9 (10 innings)
Pitching Record: W: Christon (2-0) | L: Davis (0-1) | Save: - -
Records: CCSU (8-11, 6-7 NEC), Wagner (8-11, 6-7 NEC)
Location: CCSU Baseball Field | New Britain, CT

KEY MOMENTS

• Chris Barkasy led off the bottom of the first with a double before moving to third base on a groundout. He would come across to open the scoring on a groundout by Louis Jordan to make it 1-0.
• CCSU starter Kyle Salvati did not allow a Wagner baserunner through the first 3.0 innings, but the Seahawks opened the fourth with a pair of walks. Dylan Immel followed with a single to right field to drive in a run and an error on the play allowed another run to score. Immel moved to third on the play and would score one batter later on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
• In the bottom of the fourth, Central drew two walks to open the inning. Danny Witters attempted to advance the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but an error on the play allowed him to reach base and a run to score. With runners on first and third, Brandon O'Neill followed with an RBI-groundout to tie the game before Gabe Pitts singled through the middle to make it 4-3.
• Wagner would tie the game at 4-4 with an RBI single by Immel in the fifth, before going ahead with a three-run seventh inning. The Seahawks opened the frame with three straight hits, including a two-run single by Nicholas Mazzotta. With two outs, Matt Sutera doubled to drive home a run and make it 7-4.
• CCSU would answer with five runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead. Gabe Tanous led off with a single and Barkasy and Jordan would each get hit by pitches to load the bases. Fox would enter as a pinch hitter and doubled down the right field line to drive in two runs. A walk to Merlonghi would load the bases again and Witters would single to right field driving in a pair of runs and an error on the play helped clear the bases to make it 9-7.
• Wagner would rally in the ninth, loading the bases with one out. Following a strikeout, Brendan McLoughlin delivered a single to center field to drive in two runs and tie the game, 9-9.
• Merlonghi drew his third walk of the game to lead off the 10^th inning. He moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt before taking third on a wild pitch. With two outs, another wild pitch would allow Merlonghi to cross home for the winning run.

NOTES

• Barkasy went 2-for-4 with two runs scored from the leadoff spot.
• Witters was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
• Merlonghi scored three runs in the game.
• Salvati started and went 6.0 innings for Central. He scattered five hits and rang up nine strikeouts.
• Christon allowed one hit with one strikeout in 1.2 scoreless innings.
• CCSU is 2-1 in extra inning games this season.
• CCSU has won the last two matchups and is 77-41 in the series all-time.

UP NEXT

• The teams continue the series on Friday at 1:00 p.m.

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