Northeast Baseball Preview: Delaware State at New Haven

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (Interstat) — The New Haven Chargers and Delaware State Hornets will meet for the second time in three days Sunday afternoon at Charger Gymnasium, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. under a weather forecast of 61 degrees and rain.

The Northeast Conference series concludes with both teams mired in difficult seasons. New Haven enters at 10-30 overall, while Delaware State carries a 6-39 record. The teams split a doubleheader Friday, with New Haven winning 5-3 in the opener before Delaware State answered with a 6-4 victory.

Right-hander Michael Lane will take the mound for the Hornets. Lane was dominant in Friday’s win, tossing eight innings of one-run ball while striking out eight and scattering zero hits. He also worked eight innings in a 4-5 loss at Central Connecticut on April 17, allowing five runs with five strikeouts. Lane has shown inconsistency this spring, surrendering seven earned runs against Wagner on May 1 and four earned runs at Long Island on April 24.

New Haven counters with right-hander Jace VanValkenburg, who started Friday’s loss and threw 5 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and zero earned runs while striking out one. VanValkenburg has worked primarily in relief this season and has struggled with command, posting a 2.70 ERA in a short appearance against Coppin State on May 1 and an outing of 1 2/3 innings with two earned runs at Central Connecticut on April 26.

The Chargers’ offense was led Friday by second baseman Mike Christian, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI, and catcher Jake Russo, who also drove in one run. For Delaware State, second baseman Carter Boyd went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and shortstop Santino Harwood added two hits and an RBI.

The Interstat game simulator projects a 5-2 New Haven victory.

Delaware State’s next scheduled games are a three-game series at Coppin State beginning May 14. New Haven visits Fairfield on Tuesday before a four-game homestand against Maryland-Eastern Shore from May 15-17.