New Britain, Conn. (May 17, 2013)--Mount St. Mary's fell to Central Connecticut State, 7-4, in the opening game of a four-game series on Friday afternoon.  The Mount had 13 hits in the game with five players recording two-hit games.

CCSU (26-24, 14-15 NEC) took advantage of four walks and a wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.  The Mount countered with a Brandon Scott RBI single in the second to even the score.

The Blue Devils took the lead for good with a three-run third inning.  A pair of walks put two runners on base for Mike Washburn, who belted a three-run home for CCSU.  A J.P. Sportman RBI double pushed the lead to 5-1, but the Mount rallied with single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to cut the deficit to 5-4.

Sam Nott had an RBI double in the fifth, Jay Knight an RBI single in the sixth, and Mo Moriarty an RBI double in the seventh to cut the deficit to one.

CCSU, however, scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to earn the 7-4 victory.

Nott, Mark Quaranta and Nick Walker each went 2-for-5 at the plate for the Mount (10-35, 5-24 NEC) in the game while Tom Healy and Jack Schwartz each were 2-for-4 at the plate.

Healy, who entered the game second in the NEC batting race, moved his season average to .378 with his 2-for-4 performance.

On the mound, starter Scott Nickerson struggled with his control, walking eight while allowing four runs and two hits in 2.2 innings of work.  Austin Bonadio allowed three runs in 3.2 innings of relief while Chad Diehl pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.

The teams continue the series tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. doubleheader.