Boxscore
RINDGE, N.H. – Senior right fielder
Paul Izzo (Cohoes, N.Y.) drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the ninth inning to drive home junior center fielder
Karl Derbacher (Northford, Conn.) with the only run of the game on Saturday night as the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team fought off elimination for the second time of the day with a 1-0 victory over No. 12/28 nationally ranked Bryant at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships at Dr. Pappas Field. With the win, SCSU improves to 36-16 and advances to Sunday's championship round against Franklin Pierce. With the loss, Bryant falls to 39-19.
After eight scoreless innings with few scoring chances for either side, the Owls opened the scoring with a run in the top of the ninth. Derbacher led off with a walk and moved to third on a double off the fence in right field by senior designated hitter
Anthony Fiorillo (New Haven, Conn.). After a strikeout, freshman catcher
Nick DeProspo (Worcester, Mass.) was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Izzo then worked a walk to force home Derbacher with the first and only run of the game. After a strikeout, sophomore shortstop
Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) followed with a ground ball towards the hole on the right side, however the ball struck Izzo between first and second for the third out of the inning.
Senior
Nick Carlucci (Franklin, Mass.) started on the hill and picked up the victory (6-2) for SCSU. Over eight shutout innings, he gave up five hits, walked two, hit three batters, threw a wild pitch and struck out six. Junior
Mike Connors (Wallingford, Conn.) pitched a scoreless ninth, allowed one hit and struck out one to notch his fifth save of the season.
Brent Almeida started on the mound and took the loss (3-4) for Bryant. Over eight-plus innings, he gave up one run on six hits, walked two and struck out five.
The Owls return to action on Sunday, May 11, when they take on Franklin Pierce in the championship round, with SCSU needing to beat the Ravens twice to claim its first-ever Northeast-10 Conference title. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Dr. Pappas Field. If the Owls win that game, there will be a winner-take-all contest to follow 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
