Baseball Erases Eight‑Run Deficit to Defeat WestConn, 16–15, on the Road Monday

HOW IT HAPPENED

• USJ jumped out to an early lead in the opening inning as sophomore infielder Jack Kane (West Hartford, Conn.) launched a two‑run home run to give the Blue Jays a 2–0 advantage.
• WestConn answered in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a defensive miscue to cut the deficit to 2–1.
• The Blue Jays added to their lead in the second when senior infielder JJ Fox (Killingworth, Conn.) ripped an RBI single to score freshman outfielder Ty Dammling (Hamden, Conn.), making it 3–1.
• The Wolves responded in a big way, erupting for nine runs in the bottom of the second and adding another in the third to take an 11–3 lead.
• USJ began to chip away in the fifth as senior infielder Ryan Shaw (Ellington, Conn.) grounded out to bring home Kane, trimming the deficit to 11–4. WestConn responded with an RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth inning to extend its lead to 12–4.
• The Blue Jays mounted a major rally in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, sophomore catcher Jack Kushman (Southington, Conn.) drew a walk, while Dammling and sophomore infielder Hunter Normandin (Sturbridge, Mass.) were each hit by pitches to force in three runs and cut the deficit to 12–7. Moments later, sophomore infielder Alex Zimmerman (Middle Haddam, Conn.) delivered a clutch two‑run double to make it 12–9.
• Trailing by three in the ninth inning, USJ completed the comeback with a seven‑run frame. RBI singles from Kushman, Shaw, and senior outfielder Dom Scalia (Northford, Conn.) set the stage before freshman infielder Sam Balducci (South Windsor, Conn.) delivered the go‑ahead two‑run double to put the Blue Jays in front.
• WestConn threatened in the bottom of the inning, using a bases‑clearing double to cut the lead to 16–15, but the Blue Jays held on as junior pitcher Colin Carver (Deep River, Conn.) recorded the final outs to secure the victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• USJ totaled 15 hits for the second consecutive game.
• Balducci paced the offense with four hits, including the go‑ahead double, while driving in two runs and scoring twice.
• Kane led the team with three RBI.
• Freshman pitcher Sawyer Gravel (Southington, Conn.) earned his first collegiate win in relief, tossing two hitless, scoreless innings and striking out four.