New Haven Wins Program's Third NE10 Title
RINDGE, N.H. – The University of New Haven Chargers won their third title in program history Saturday evening. They went into the day needing to win twice to be crowned champions, after suffering a loss to Franklin Pierce yesterday. The Chargers did just that, winning game one 5-3 after coming from behind in the seventh inning, and won the final game of this year's Championship Weekend 7-6 thanks to a fantastic all-around effort, and a back and forth battle between the two teams.
Back in 2017, the Chargers lost their first game of the NE10 Championship, and went on to win every game the rest of the way, defeating Franklin Pierce twice on the final day to win the title. This year played out very similar, with their backs against the wall, in a battle of #2 of the Southwest Division, and #2 of the Northeast Division, it was the Southwest's Chargers that took home the title after two close battles late into the night. That marks two championships in a row for the Southwest Division. The 2024 title for the Chargers also comes 11 years, to the day, from New Haven's first Northeast-10 Conference Championship in 2013.
With the win, New Haven earns the automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division II Championship with regional round games starting this coming week. New Haven and other NE10 teams will learn their future in the NCAA Selection show on NCAA.com Sunday May 12 at 10:30pm.
Game One: New Haven 5, Franklin Pierce 3 - Box Score
In the opening game the Ravens broke through first with a single run in the fourth inning before New Haven answered in the next half inning with an RBI fielder's choice from Matt McIntire. Two runs were able to score on that with the ball getting away as the Ravens looked to turn two. Overall for the game, McIntire drove in three runs, plating two more on a double to right center in the seventh as the Chargers took the lead for good. Aiden Forde added one more run in the night on a sacrifice fly.
Leading the way at the plate for the Chargers was centerfielder Nick Ungania who went 3-for-5 as the Chargers finished the game with five total hits. On the mound it was Liam Carroll who earned the start and three five innings, surrendering three runs to the Ravens. Out of the pen, Jafar Vohra earned the victory pitching four scoreless innings. Overall, he allowed two hits and struck out four, combing with Carroll to fan eight total Ravens in the game.
Game Two: New Haven 7, Franklin Pierce 6 - Box Score
In the winner take all finale, it was a back and forth battle until the sixth inning when a Shaun Callahan double to left center plated two runs and the Chargers never looked back from there. Franklin Pierce got on the board first with a pair of runs in the first inning. It wasn't until the third inning that New Haven scored, however they pushed four runs across for the first lead change of the game. Highlighting that frame was the bat of McIntire who's big fly drove in two runs to tie the game, Cole Maucere and Joseph Frazzetta followed with RBI hits to extend the Charger lead.
After the Ravens regained the lead in the top of the sixth it was Callahan's double that flipped the score back in favor of New Haven. Ungania would add one more to the scoreboard in the seventh on a double through the left side, while Franklin Pierce was only able to muster one additional run as the bullpen effort from NE10 Championship MVP Michael Gatti closed out the game with the sophomore earning his second victory of the weekend.
In addition to Gatti, two other Chargers earned a spot on the All-Championship team as he was joined by Callahan and McIntire.
New Haven will now await the official announcement from the NCAA with a location and opponent in the NCAA East Regionals which will be held at the campus sites of the two highest seeded teams in the regional bracket. The winners of each regional bracket will advance to a Super Regional with the winner of that earning a spot in the NCAA Division II College World Series.
- Recaps provided by New Haven athletic communications -
Elite 24 Award:
Tyler Wells, New Haven
All-Championship Team
Michael Gatti, New Haven*
Shaun Callahan, New Haven
Matt McIntire, New Haven
Nolan DeAndrade, Franklin Pierce
Chaz Powell, Franklin Pierce
Jack Barry, Assumption
Anthony Labita, Pace
*Most Outstanding Player
NE10 Baseball Championship
Tuesday, May 7th – First Round (single elimination)
Game 1: #4 NE Assumption 23, #1 NE SNHU 2
Game 2: #2 NE Franklin Pierce 8, #3 NE Bentley 6 (F/10)
Game 3: #1 SW Pace 8, #4 SW Saint Rose 5
Game 4: #2 SW New Haven 6, #3 SW Adelphi
Thursday, May 9th, Friday, May 10th and Saturday, May 11th (Finals weekend will be hosted by the Southwest Division and is a double-elimination format)
Game 5 (Thursday): #2 NE Franklin Pierce 10, #1 SW Pace 2
Game 6 (Thursday): #2 SW New Haven 4, #4 NE Assumption 0
Game 7: (Thursday): #4 NE Assumption 7, #1 SW Pace 4
Game 8: (Friday): #2 NE Franklin Pierce 5, #2 SW New Haven 1
Game 9: (Friday): #2 SW New Haven 4, #4 NE Assumption 1
Game 10: (Saturday) #2 SW New Haven 5, #2 NE Franklin Pierce 3
Game 11: (Saturday): #2 SW New Haven 7, #2 NE Franklin Pierce 6
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 12 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.
