NEW BRITAIN, Conn.— The Sacred Heart University baseball team tied a program record with 22 hits in game two to earn the big Northeast Conference doubleheader sweep over Central Connecticut State on Sunday afternoon. 

The Pioneers (8-16) broke a tie ballgame with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take game one, 6-4. The Blue Devils (8-14, 5-5 NEC) held a 9-8 lead in the seventh inning before SHU erupted for 12 runs in the eighth to pull away with a 20-9 win in game two. 

Game One – SHU 6, CCSU 4

After yesterday's doubleheader split both teams came out hot early with a run in the opening inning. Redshirt sophomore Jake Frasca recorded the RBI single to push the score to 1-1. SHU took the 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a RBI walk by freshman Isiah Daubon and a sacrifice fly by co-captain PJ DeFilippo. 

Freshman righthander Cooper Thompson recorded eight strikeouts after the Blue Devils scored in the first. But CCSU would score two in the top half of the sixth to tie it at 3-3. 

The Pioneers went to work in the bottom half of the inning as sophomore Bobby Garbuio opened the inning with a single. After a CCSU pitching change, DeFilippo followed with another single before sophomore Elijah Brown was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior Dan Schock recorded the sacrifice fly to right to put SHU ahead. Junior Kyle Oliver plated the final two runs on a single to centerfield.

CCSU threatened with one run in the top of the seventh before Frasca shut down the game for the save. The Pioneers heart of the order in two through five recorded a hit including a pair by Oliver.

Thompson went six strong innings in the start with a career-high 10 strikeouts to just one walk. Frasca earned his first career save with two strikeouts in the seventh. 

Game Two – SHU 20, CCSU 9

The Blue Devils were the first to strike in game two capitalizing on an error in the infield in the top of the first inning.

SHU finally got going in the third inning with some two-out hitting as Brown singled to left field. After a walk to Schock in the two-hole Frasca delivered the two-run double to left field to get the Pioneers the early lead. Oliver followed up with a RBI single to right to make the score 3-1. 

The Pioneers recorded five runs in the fourth with Markmann starting things off with a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. Brown then followed with a RBI single to center field before Schock roped a two-RBI triple to right center field. Frasca completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly to take the 8-1 lead. 

The lead was short-lived as the Blue Devils recorded five runs in the sixth inning and three in the seventh to take the 9-8 lead. 

The hit parade arrived in the bottom of the eighth as the Pioneers looked to battle back. SHU recorded 12 runs in the inning on 12 hits. Brown recorded three RBI in the inning on a double and single. Schock drove in four with a RBI single and three-run home run in the inning.

SHU recorded 22 hits for the first time since April 9, 2009 when they set a program-best against CCSU. Six Pioneers recorded multiple hits including six or more with three-plus hits. 

The Pioneers top three hitters in Brown, Schock, and Frasca combined for 10 runs scored, 10 hits and 14 RBI. 

Freshman Ryan LaMay earned his first career start in the finale, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out seven in five and third innings. Sophomore Brendan Coffey earned his first collegiate win pitching two and two-thirds innings allowing just two hits and two walks.

SHU travels up the road to Yale on Wednesday, April 11 for a non-conference matchup.