Baseball Improves to 8–2 in Conference Play With Saturday Sweep of Colby‑Sawyer

GAME ONE | USJ 5, CSC 2

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Colby‑Sawyer struck first in the opening inning, plating two runs to take an early 2–0 lead.
• USJ answered in the bottom of the second, cutting the deficit in half as sophomore catcher Jack Kushman (Southington, Conn.) delivered an RBI single to make it 2–1.
• The Blue Jays evened the score in the fifth inning when senior outfielder Dom Scalia (Northford, Conn.) ripped an RBI single to center field, bringing home sophomore infielder Jack Kane (West Hartford, Conn.) to tie the game at 2–2.
• Kushman delivered again in the sixth, launching his third home run of the season — a solo shot that gave USJ its first lead of the day at 3–2.
• Later in the inning, Kane provided key insurance with a two‑run single to left field, scoring senior infielder JJ Fox (Killingworth, Conn.) and senior outfielder Nelson Rondon (Meriden, Conn.) to extend the lead to 5–2, which would stand as the final.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Kushman led the offense with two hits, including the go‑ahead home run, while driving in two runs and scoring once.
• Kane continued his strong play at the plate, recording a hit, two walks, two RBI, and a run scored, while also swiping a team‑high two bases.
• Sophomore pitcher Marcus Tarfano (Southington, Conn.) earned the win in relief, improving to 2–0 after tossing two hitless, scoreless innings with one strikeout.

GAME TWO | USJ 12, CSC 2 (SEVEN INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Blue Jays struck first in the second inning, scoring three runs behind RBI doubles from Fox and Scalia, along with a groundout from Kane, to take a 3–0 lead.
• Colby‑Sawyer responded in the third with two runs to cut the deficit to 3–2.
• USJ answered in the bottom half of the inning as junior outfielder Ben Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) lined an RBI single to left‑center field, scoring junior infielder Tyler Carlstrom (Rocky Hill, Conn.) to make it 4–2.
• The Blue Jays broke the game open in the fifth inning, erupting for six runs. The outburst was highlighted by RBI singles from Scalia, Kane, Kushman, and senior outfielder Ryan Quinn (Middletown, Conn.) to extend the lead to 10–2.
• USJ added two more in the seventh to close out the sweep via the run rule. Kane delivered an RBI double down the left‑field line before Quinn executed a successful safety squeeze to make it 12–2.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Junior pitcher Kaden Murphy (Woodstock, Conn.) earned his first win of the season, throwing 5.1 innings while allowing five hits and two runs and striking out five.
• All nine Blue Jays recorded at least one hit in the victory.
• Kane paced the offense with two hits, four RBI, and two runs scored.
• Sophomore pitcher Brady Higginbotham (Enfield, Conn.) closed out the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one.

UP NEXT

The Blue Jays return to the diamond on Monday, April 6, traveling to face intrastate foe Western Connecticut State University in a non‑conference matchup. First pitch between USJ and the Wolves is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Westside Baseball Field in Danbury, Conn.

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