Quinnipiac University
Central Conn. St.
Mike Palladino Scores Game-Winning Run In 12th Inning As QU Baseball Downs CCSU, 9-8
4/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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HAMDEN, Connecticut – The Quinnipiac University baseball team came from behind to defeat Central Connecticut State, 9-8, in 12 innings in a non-conference match-up at the Quinnipiac Baseball Field in Hamden, Conn. With the win, Quinnipiac improves to 11-16 overall and have now won seven of its last nine games. CCSU drops to 8-13 overall.
Mike Palladino (Rockville Centre, New York) scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning on a bunt single by Matthew Batten (Shelton, Connecticut). Quinnipiac trailed early, and clawed its way back into the game before tying it in the seventh and forcing extra innings. Scott Donaghue (Marlboro, New Jersey) and Lou Iannotti (North Haven, Connecticut) were both 3-for-6 while Donaghue drove in three runs and Iannotti scored twice. Robert Hitt (Suffield, Connecticut) pitched a scoreless 12th to pick up the win and improve to 2-2 on the year.
Central Connecticut State jumped out to an early lead, plating four runs in their first at-bat. Quinnipiac starter Charlie Murray (Charlton, Massachusetts) gave up just one hit in the first inning, but walks to three of the first four batters of the game resulted, with a wild pitch, resulted in the game's first two runs. Bobcats' sophomore shortstop Matthew Batten (Shelton, Connecticut) flashed the glove to help Murray's cause, making back-to-back plays for the first two outs of the inning, with runs scoring on both plays.
Quinnipiac responded with a four-run second inning to tie the game. Lou Iannotti (North Haven, Connecticut) reached on an error to lead off the inning before junior John Bodenhamer (Maple Valley, Washington) singled to move Iannotti into scoring position at second. After freshman Ben Gibson (Sagamore, Massachusetts) ground-out, freshman Anthony Cruz (Burlington, Massachusetts) singled through the leftside of the infield to score Iannotti, and move Bodenhamer to third.
After Bodenhamer scored on a balk, with Cruz moving to second, freshman Julius Saporito (Manalapan, New Jersey) walked to put runners on first and second. The second balk of the inning moved both runners into scoring position before a two-out single by Scott Donaghue (Marlboro, New Jersey) scored Saporito and Cruz to tie the game at 4-4.
In the third, Quinnipiac's Murray gave up a lead-off double to Corey Lerche before retiring the first two batters. After walking the next batter, Murray was replaced by freshman Mike Davis (Sandy Hook, Connecticut). Davis gave up two more hits, resulting in three runs, which were all charged to Murray. For the day, Murray was charged with six runs on three hits over 2 2/3.
Davis, meanwhile, settled in and scattered two runs on five hits over 3 1/3 before giving way to Matthew Lorenzetti (Marlboro, New Jersey). Lorenzetti silenced the CCSU bats down the stretch, pitching two hitless, scoreless innings in relief.
In the sixth, trailing 8-4, the Bobcats pushed three runs across to pull within in a run, 8-7. With one out, Gibson singled through the left side of the infield before moving to second on a single by Cruz. Saporito then delivered a one-out, two-run double to score Cruz and Gibson before Donaghue stroked a single through the right side of the infield to score Saporito.
In the seventh, Iannotti lined a pitch down the left field line, and made the hustle play on the bases to stretch it to a double. After Iannotti moved to third on a balk and Bodenhamer walked, the Bobcats pulled off the squeeze when Gibson dropped down a bunt that allowed Iannotti to sneak home with the game-tying run.
Gregory Egan (Seldon, New York) entered the game to start the ninth for Quinnipiac, and gave up a lead-off walk to CCSU's John Lippincott. Ryan Costello then sacrificed Lippincott over to second before Connor Fitzsimmons' ground ball to second moved Lippincott to third and 90 feet from the giving CCSU the lead. Dean Lockery then smoked an offering from Egan up the middle, but Batten made a diving stab to end the inning and save the run. Egan was rock solid for the Bobcats, hurling two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and walking one.
Quinnipiac threatened in the bottom of the 10th after Mike Palladino (Rockville Centre, New York) doubled after a lead-off ground-out by Saporito. Donaghue was then walked intentionally to put runners on first and second before Batten popped up to the catcher. After Vin Guglietti (East Haven, Connecticut) was walked to load the bases, Iannotti connected on a two-strike offering, sending Lippincott to chase it down in left, which he did to end the inning.
In the 12th, Palladino walked to lead off the inning before stealing second. After a passed ball put him at third, and Donaghue was walked, Batten dropped down a bunt single to score Palladino with the winning run.
Quinnipiac will resume Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play this weekend when it takes on Manhattan in a three-game series on Saturday, Apr. 11 and Sunday, Apr. 12 at Dutchess Stadium in Wappingers Falls, New York.
