May 2, 2008

Final Stats

TRUMBULL, CT - Just one strike away from finishing off a complete-game win over visiting Central Connecticut, Sacred Heart starter Chris Barthel gave up back-to-back homers to Casey Walker and Pat Epps to lift the Blue Devils over the Pioneers 4-3 in a Northeast Conference tilt Friday night.

Sacred Heart, now 8-9 in the NEC, got a pair of singles in the first inning with two outs but stranded both runners. After giving up the second hit, CCSU starter Ken Kerski retired the next 16 Pioneers he faced.

Central Connecticut, 11-6 in the conference, got leadoff doubles in the four and fifth innings and plated them both to take a 2-0 lead. Jak Kidd drove in the first with a ground out, while catcher Sean Parker had an RBI single in the fifth to make it 2-0.

The Pioneers finally got on the board with a run in the seventh inning. Tyler Santos led off the frame with a triple to right and scored on a ground out to second by Ryan Lynch.

The Pioneers scored two in the bottom of the eighth to take a 3-2 lead. The action started with two outs and no one on when Kerski hit pinch hitter Ryan Nemcek with a pitch. Phil Tantillo moved him to second with a bloop single to right. JJ Edwards tied the score with a hit to shallow center and Santos did the same to give the Pioneers the lead.

Barthel, who had thrown just 81 pitches in the first eight innings, got the first two Central hitters on fly balls in the ninth inning. Walko worked the count to 2-2 and then blasted the next pitch over the wall to straight away center. Epps handed the Blue Devils the lead when he hit a 2-1 Barthel offering over the left centerfield wall.

SHU made some noise in the ninth against Kerski when Paul Schmidt walked with one out. Kerski retired Matt Fitton for the second out but Mike Drowne singled to left to put two on. Kerski got Phil Riggio on a shallow fly to center to end the game.

Kerski threw 140 pitches in his complete-game win to lift his record to 2-5. He struck out 13 and walked just one.

The two teams will continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard. First pitch is scheduled for 10 AM.