By Chris McLaughlin
Backed by a late, two-run homerun from Anthony Turgeon, the CCSU baseball team came out on top 5-4 against Stony Brook this past week.
The homerun was the first of Turgeon’s career, which also gave the Blue Devils (15-12-1) the first lead of the afternoon. Stony Brook (19-9) jumped out to early leads, but CCSU was always there to match. The Blue Devils trailed 4-3 in the fourth when Turgeon stepped up to the plate. His blast was enough to put CCSU up for good.
Though Blue Devil starter, Todd Savatsky gave up four runs in four innings, once CCSU took the lead, he shut down the Stony Brook hitters. The win against Stony Brook was the Blue Devils’ fifth straight win, and though this was a non-conference game, CCSU remains in third place in the NEC behind Monmouth and Long Island University.
“Sometimes when you play non-conference games you worry about having that edge,” said head coach Charlie Hickey. “We could have maximized more of our opportunities on offense, but we got good help from our bullpen and closed it out.”
While coach Hickey was wondering if his team had its competitive edge, the first pitch of the game was smacked for a triple. Stony Brook was able to capitalize in the inning, picking up two runs, and putting the team on top before CCSU’s first batter even stepped to the plate.
Despite the fact that the Blue Devils trailed early, the team proved just how competitive they could be, by storming back to tie it in the bottom of the inning. Pat Epps and Mitch Wells each had an RBI in the inning, and the Blue Devils picked up right where they left off from Tuesdays 16-2 affair.
“The first inning is one of the most important,” said Hickey. “We don’t want to get back on our heels to start the game, and luckily we were able to pick up some big hits to get it even.”
After a scoreless second inning, Stony Brook picked up another run in the third. The Blue Devils refused to stay down, tying it up in the bottom of the inning on a JP Sportman two-out single. Stony Brook threatened to have a big inning in the fourth, putting the first two hitters on base, but Savatsky limited the damage, only giving up one run.
In the bottom of the fourth, a lead off single by Dylan Delacruz put the tying run on base. After Delacruz was bunted over to second, Turgeon stepped up to bat. With two outs in the inning, Turgeon blasted an opposite field shot that wrapped around the foul pole, giving the Blue Devils the lead. After missing three weeks due to injury, Turgeon was playing in only his second game back. Despite only being the fourth inning, Turgeon’s homer proved to be the game winner.
“Getting Turgeon back adds another quality player to our team,” said Hickey. “He needs to be more consistent in his at bats, but he’s more than just a freshman.”
With the lead in hand, Savatsky cruised through the next three innings. He didn’t give up any runs after giving up four in the first four innings. Savatsky went seven innings, striking out four to pick up his fourth win of the season.
“The first pitch of the game was hit for a triple, but the one thing Todd does is compete,” said Hickey. “He limited the damage, and did enough things right to pick up his fifth consistent start in a row. He was pretty good today.”
With Savatsky out of the game, Hickey went with Nick Boyd to pick up the six out save. Boyd retired Stony Brook 1-2-3 in the eighth, and repeated the feat in the ninth to close out the game.
“Boyd got three out in the eighth, and he looked good so we sent him out there for the ninth,” said Hickey. “We didn’t want to complicate things so we rode him out.”
The Blue Devils continue a six game home stand which began with a loss against Fairfield on Sunday. The stint at home closes out on April 27, against in-state rival, and the team that bumped the Blue Devils from last year’s NCAA Tournament, UConn.
The next game for CCSU is a match up against Massachusetts on April 19, at 3 p.m.
