NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (Interstat) — The Central Connecticut Blue Devils erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Saturday, transforming a four-run deficit into a commanding lead and securing an 11-7 victory over the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks at Balf-Savin Field.

The comeback, which saw 12 Blue Devils come to the plate, negated a strong start by Maryland-Eastern Shore pitcher Jonah Stepner and a fast offensive beginning by the Hawks. The win evened Central Connecticut’s record at 2-2, while the Hawks fell to 1-10.

Maryland-Eastern Shore struck quickly, plating three runs in the first inning off Central Connecticut starter Nick Murphy. Julian Jimenez doubled home Kedrick Alicea, and Jonathan Gonzalez Perez followed with an RBI single. The Hawks then batted around in a messy second inning, scoring four more runs on just one hit, aided by three walks, a hit batter and a stolen base. That surge chased Murphy and gave UMES a 7-0 lead.

From there, Central Connecticut reliever Zach Worzel stabilized the game. Entering with the bases loaded and one out in the second, Worzel induced an inning-ending fielder’s choice. He then proceeded to shut down the Hawks’ offense, working 4 1/3 innings and allowing just one run on three hits. His performance was a stark turnaround from his previous outing on Feb. 28, where he recorded only one out and allowed two earned runs.

Worzel’s effort allowed the Blue Devils to chip away. They scored an unearned run in the third on an Antonio Ducatelli RBI single, then added two more in the fourth on run-scoring hits from Chris Barkasy and Gianno Merlonghi. The Hawks got a run back in the fifth on an RBI single from Marco Davila to make it 7-3, but Stepner continued to limit the damage through six innings, scattering three runs, only one earned, on five hits.

The game’s defining turn came in the late innings. After Niko Christon worked a scoreless top of the eighth for Central Connecticut, the Blue Devils’ offense exploded against the Hawks’ bullpen in the bottom half.

The rally started subtly. Brandon O’Neill walked, advanced on a balk, and scored on another balk to cut the lead to 7-5. After two were out, the floodgates opened. Ducatelli singled and Frankie Ferrentino smashed a two-run double to tie the game at 7. Louis Jordan walked, and Matt Graziose followed with a two-run double down the right-field line to put Central Connecticut ahead 9-7. Gabe Pitts and O’Neill added RBI singles to cap the outburst, making it 11-7.

Richie Kerstetter closed the door in the ninth, striking out two to seal the win.

The most important part of the game was unequivocally the bottom of the eighth inning. Trailing 7-4 and having been held in check for much of the afternoon, the Blue Devils sent 12 men to the plate, recorded six of their 14 hits, and capitalized on critical Hawks mistakes to completely reverse the game’s momentum and outcome. The inning turned a potential series-clinching win for UMES into a decisive rally that highlighted Central Connecticut’s resilience.

Offensively, Graziose drove in three runs for Central Connecticut, while Ferrentino and O’Neill each had two hits and two and one RBIs, respectively. For Maryland-Eastern Shore, Gonzalez Perez had two hits and two RBIs.

The teams conclude their three-game series Sunday afternoon.