Box Score NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Four runs in the first three innings was more than enough for Robbie Maguire, as the senior went seven strong for the second consecutive start to help the Sacred Heart baseball team secure the three seed in the upcoming Northeast Conference Tournament with a 10-1 victory at Central Connecticut State in the regular season finale on Saturday afternoon. SHU ends the regular season winning five of its last seven to finish at 20-29-1 and 13-11 in the league, while CSSU finishes its campaign at 17-31 and 9-15 in the NEC.
It was the second straight weekend that Maguire hurled seven innings of one run ball. He allowed just five hits while striking out five and walking none. Alex Perry came on for the final two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and two walks while striking out two.
Kenny Byram led the Pioneers at the plate, finishing 3-4 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Six days after hitting his first career home run, a grand slam on senior day, Byram again went deep with a solo home run to lead off the fifth.
Zack Short also homered in the fifth, highlighting a day in which he went 2-4 with three RBI's, two runs and a walk.
Ted Shaw also added two hits, a run and a walk, while
Jesus Medina drove in two runs and scored two more, and
Jayson Sullivan crossed home twice.
Sacred Heart jumped on top of the Blue Devils right away, scoring in its first at bat after executing a double steal. The first two hitters of the frame were retired, but Short kept the inning alive with a walk before advancing to third on a Victor Sorrento single. Sorrento would then attempt to steal second during the next at bat, getting in a run down after the catcher threw down, which allowed Short to score before Sorrento was tagged out on the play.
Back to back singles by PJ DeFilippo and Shaw sparked a two run second for the Pioneers, as Cody Doyle moved the two up one base each with a sacrifice bunt. Keaton Flint doubled the lead with a RBI groundout before Byram made it 3-0 with a bunt single. Then in the fourth, a Medina walk, Short double, and Sorrento sacrifice fly, all with one out, extended the lead to four.
Maguire's lone blemish came in the fourth, after Franklin Jennings led off with a double for Central's first hit of the afternoon. Dominic Servino then moved Jennings over to third with a groundout before Ian Glassman plated the only CCSU run of the game with a single. Connor Fitzsimons singled with two outs to put runners at first and second, but Maguire escaped any further damage by picking off Glassman at second base.
The Pioneers put the game away in the fifth with the two home runs. After Byram's leadoff homer traveled over the left field fence, Sullivan singled. The next hitter was retired, but Short then also sent his home run over the left field fence for a 7-1 cushion.
Central Connecticut State was able to get runners on second in both the fifth and sixth, but each time Maguire ended the threats with groundouts. After SHU had added an eighth run in the seventh thanks to a Short groundout, Maguire finished his afternoon with a 1-2-3 seventh.
Medina drove in the final two runs in the ninth, doubling down the right field line to score Byram and Sullivan, who had reached via a single and hit by pitch to lead off the inning.
Jennings was the lone Blue Devil with two hits, also scoring CCSU's only run in the loss. Starter Jesse Frawley got through just three innings, allowing four earned on five hits. Austin Salnitis then came in for the next two, giving up three earned on three hits before Kevin Connolly pitched the final four frames, allowing two earned on three hits.
The third seeded Pioneers will match up with second seed Wagner at the Northeast Conference Tournament this coming Thursday at Dodd Stadium in Norwich, Conn. The two teams split their season series, each taking two in a four game set. First seed and regular season champions Bryant, as well as either Fairleigh Dickinson or Mount St. Mary's, will also play on the opening day of the four team, double elimination tournament that runs through either Saturday or Sunday.
