Baseball Walks Off New Haven With Three Runs In The Bottom Of The Ninth

Bridgeport, Conn.-Trialing 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, the University of Bridgeport baseball team scored three time to post a 5-4 walk-off win over the visiting University of New Haven Chargers on Wednesday afternoon and earn a split in the teams' two-game series.  With Wednesday's win, the Purple Knights are now 5-8 on the season.  UNH is now 8-4 overall.

With the scored tied at 2-2 heading into the ninth, New Haven plated a pair of runs to take a 4-2 lead setting up the Purple Knights' game-winning heroics in the bottom of the frame.

Senior Craig Leonard (Holtsville, N.Y.) started the bottom of the ninth with a single, his second hit of the day, and he moved to third after and infield hit by Justin Leigh (Bridgeport, Conn.), who went 2-for-4 in the game, and error putting Purple Knights on the corners with no outs.

Sophomore Jake Woods (Stony Brook, N.Y.) quickly brought home Leonard with a single to right, making the score 4-3, that moved pinch runner Christian Ortiz (Fr., Linden, N.J.) to second.

Up next for the Purple Knights, Conall Roberts (Grad., Mt. Laurel, N.J.) dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved both runners into scoring position with just one out.

Bridgeport would tie the game at 4-4 with Alex Rauso (Grad., Trumbull, Conn.) in the batter's box on a wild pitch that brought Ortiz home.

New Haven would then decide to intentionally walk Rauso with Woods as the winning run at third putting runners again at the corners with junior Jacob Rich (Northwood. N.H.) stepping up.

Rich would knock in the winning run with a fielder's choice grounder to second base to drive in his third run of the game to go along with three base hits, as the throw home was too late to get Woods who slide home safely from third to end the game.

Those three runs made a winner in relief of senior Justin Hafele (Shelton, Conn.) who is now 1-1 on the year.

Graduate student Jason Burger (Orlando, Fla.) was outstanding as the Purple Knights' starter on Wednesday, as he worked eight strong innings allowing only five hits with 10 strikeouts and just two walks.

Up next, the UB baseball team will continue its nine-game homestand with a Friday doubleheader against Jefferson University at 12 noon.  This is a schedule change as the game was originally slated to be played on Saturday, but due to the forecast for inclement weather has been moved up a day.  UB and Jefferson will also meet in a Sunday doubleheader in Seaside Park.