by David F. Pendrys [Official Box Score]

BRIDGEPORT, CT- After the debacle of Game 1 of the doubleheader, Sacred Heart rebounded to pull out a win but it would not come easy. The Pioneers sent James Cooksey to the hill, and the Bulldogs of Bryant deployed Trevor Lacosse.

Bryant would strike first in the top of the 2nd as Robby Rinn opened the inning tripling to deep right field. The next two batters were outs, but Cooksey walked Daniel Palazzo to keep the inning alive. Palazzo then stole second but the throw sequence from the catcher to second and back home did not work well at all, as Rinn scored and Palazzo made it to third. The batter grounded out though and Cooksey escaped with only 1 run scored.

The Pioneers opened things up in the bottom of the third. Keaton Flint was walked to open the inning and when a pitch went in the dirt was soon at second. Jayson Sullivan singled scoring Flint. Jesus Medina hit out and grounded to the left side, but the fielder had no play and both runners were safe. Zack Short walked to load the bases setting the table for PJ DeFilippo singling two runs in. That ended the day for Lacosse and brought in Ross Weiner. Keith Klebart ricocheted a ball off the short stop scoring another run. Some more runners made it on base, but Weiner got the Bulldogs out of the inning.

The teams would hold each other scoreless after that for a long time despite some threats. In the top of the seventh things changed. The first Bryant batter grounded out, the second flied out, but Cooksey walked Buck McCarthy, and pinch hitter Joseph Paparelli singled to left advancing McCarthy. Jordan Mountford singled as well however no one scored. The bases were loaded with two outs. Brandon Bingel stepped in to bat and after a dramatic pitch exchanged smacked a single scoring two runs. This ended Cooksey’s day. The fresh arm of Dan Wertz was summoned but Matt Albanese singled in the next at bat, and the score was tied. The next batter grounded out, but three two out runs endangered everything for Sacred Heart. SHU was unable to score in the bottom of the inning pushing the game into “extra innings.” Wertz got himself out of a jam in the top striking out three straight batters, but the Pioneers couldn’t get a run across in the bottom of the eight either.

This would carry on with the stable Weiner giving way to James Davitt, and Wertz eventually giving it to Jesus Medina. In the twelfth, Sacred Heart loaded the bases but took two outs to do so, but Victor Sorrento pinch hit and singled in Medina. SHU took the win 5-4, coincidentally giving Medina the win as the pitcher of record at the time.

Editor’s Note: Eyewitness account through eight innings, then consulting SHU athletics as stupid as it sounds at having to depart before the game was over, that was the case.