Cary, N.C. (2/24/23) The Dominican University New York baseball team opened up the 2023 season with a 5-4 victory tonight over non-conference opponent, Clarion University, in a game played at the USA Baseball Training Complex.

Clarion falls to 0-5 on the season, while Dominican improves to 1-0.

The Chargers got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning when third baseman Joseph Coppola (Cornwall, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly ball which allowed catcher Benjamin Avila (Walden, N.Y.) to score for the early 1-0 advantage.

Dominican added a run in the second on the RBI single off the bat of Alexander Reyes (Bronx, N.Y.) and made the score 3-0 in the third on the RBI groundout by Ty Gilligan (Ringwood, N.J.).

The Golden Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third inning on a single and a three-run home run for the 4-3 edge.

Avila reached on a fielder's choice in the top of the fifth which brought home Reyes to tie the game 4-4.

The game would remained tied until the top of the ninth when Avila hit a sacrifice fly to center that plated left fielder Davin Keddell-Tuckey (Troy, N.Y.) for the 5-4 lead and eventual victory.

Reliever Matt Sabene (Danbury, Conn.) game in and pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for his first save of the season.

Maverick Medina (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) picked up the win in one inning of work.  Starter Anthony Leak (Pelham, N.Y.) went six innings and collected nine strikeouts.

Up next for the Chargers will be a game tomorrow afternoon against Mansfield University.