Following a series loss against Northeast Conference opponent Wagner, the CCSU baseball team failed to get back on track as they dropped a home game against the St. John’s Red Storm on Tuesday, April 7, with a final score of 9-1.
The game against the Johnnies was Central’s first game against a power conference opponent all season, as well as their first matchup against any school from the Big East Conference since playing the Red Storm in March 2025.
St. John’s came into the game 14-17 overall but 3-0 in conference play after sweeping Seton Hall in a recent series.
The game began with Central on the mound with pitcher Kyle McDermott starting, and St. John’s immediately flexed their muscles with two runs in the first inning before their 2-0 lead was cut in half by the Blue Devils thanks to offensive power by Gabe Pitts and Antonio Ducatelli.
McDermott and St. John’s’ Thomas Harding continued trading blows as neither squad was able to generate any runs throughout the second, third or fourth innings. The Red Storm, however, got the better of McDermott in the fifth, as they were able to score a run before he was pulled in favor of relief pitcher Bryce Meder. Meder couldn’t stop the bleeding as St. John’s drove in another three runs to extend their lead to 6-1.
Central’s woes on the mound continued as CJ DiBenedetto allowed another three runs after he came in for Meder, extending St. John’s lead to 8-1. Mason McCarroll was able to slow down the opposing momentum as he only allowed a single hit while pitching, but the Red Storm’s pitching continued to be strong. The team put on cruise control on the mound and only gave up four hits to Central.
After McCarroll gave up the game-sealing ninth Red Storm run, closer Noah Terzo ended the game on a high note as he pitched a perfect ninth inning. That wouldn’t be enough to change the result, however, as the Blue Devils lost by eight.
Gianno Merlonghi was Central’s hit leader with two, and Antonio Ducatelli had one RBI.
Head Coach Charlie Hickey was critical of his team during the loss and emphasized the lack of consistency on either side of the ball throughout the game, as well as throughout the season thus far.
“It’s been a struggle for us for a while now,” Hickey said.
He added that the team isn’t operating on a good formula of play.
“That’s just the rut we’re in right now,” he said.
Coach Hickey sang the praises of St. John’s and mentioned how a power conference team gave the Blue Devils a “reality check” on Tuesday.
“You got a chance to see the depth of their pitching,” Hickey said.
He added that it was stronger than what you see in the NEC.
“They played a couple other kids who are younger, but they’ve been a quality program for a long time,” he said.
Hickey did not have a long list of positives from the game.
“You can either feel sorry about it or you can do something. The other teams in our conference have no sympathy for us. You earn it by going out and playing better,” he said. “Until we fix things like throwing strikes and playing defense, we’re not gonna be where we want to be at the end of the year.”
He also talked about some of the differences between last year’s team and this year’s team and what the challenges are from the coach’s point of view.
“Last year we used to dictate so much because of our offense. It was easier to play when we were up six runs,” he said.
Central’s next series will be in Maryland against conference opponent Coppin State this weekend, and the team will return to New Britain on Tuesday, April 14, to take on the University at Albany.
