Mazzoni Eighth Inning Walk-Off Lifts Barnums Past Southington In Opening Round of the Playoffs

Brayden Mazzoni's walk-off eighth inning single to score automatic runner Joey's D'Elia lifted the Bridgeport Barnums to a 5-4 first round CCBL playoff victory over the Southington Black Knights on Sunday afternoon at Seaside Park in Bridgeport. 

Southington got on the board right in the way, putting up three in the top of the first. The Black Knights were heled by a dropped fly ball. The big hit in the inning was a two-run single by Jack McManus. 

Bridgeport got a couple back in the bottom half of the frame. 

With runners on first and second and one-out, Blake Benway singled to right to bring home Will Stellato and get the Barnums on the board. They added another on a bases-loaded walk by Matt Vivona. 

Southington added a run in the top of the fourth on Jared Clark's RBI single. 

Bridgeport got two back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at four. 

Michael Hernandez led off the inning with a double. He moved to third on a groundout. Hernandez came in to score as Justin Higgins reached on an error. 

Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Stellato hit a sacrifice fly to right field to tie game game at four. 

The game would stay knotted at four until Mazzoni's heroics in the eight. 

On the mound for the Barnums, Joey Sangiuolo battled trough six innings. He allowed four runs, only two earned, on seven hits, while striking out six and walking three. Will O'Connor picked up the win with two perfect innings of relief that included one strikeout. 

Bridgeport will be back in action on Monday vs Hamden at 5:30pm at Municipal Stadium in the second round of the CCBL playoffs.