Complete Game Notes as a PDF

FOUR GAMES AHEAD
The Southern Connecticut State University baseball team (10-14, 5-5 NE-10) is set to face Franklin Pierce at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 in Rindge, N.H. The Owls return to the field the following day as they host Assumption for a 3 p.m. Northeast-10 matchup. The team has a day off before their final game of the week in a doubleheader at The Ballpark at SCSU on Saturday, April 11 against UMass Lowell.

LEADING THE WAY
Through 24 games, Ryan Geffert ranks among the best in the conference in several categories. He is leading the NE-10 in homeruns with seven and is third in RBI (28) and slugging percentage (.659). On Tuesday, April 7 he hit his first career grand slam against Assumption as he went 4-for-5 from the plate with two doubles and seven RBI.

COMING THROUGH IN THE CLUTCH
On Sunday, April 5 with the game tied at three, Greg Malen led off with a double to left center. After a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Bowerman and two intentional walks, Franklin Pierce decided to pitch to Geffert with the bases loaded. A bad decision by the Ravens as Geffert sent it deep to center field for a sacrifice fly, driving in Malen for the game-winning run.

OWLS TAKE HOME OPENER
In their first game at the Ballpark at SCSU, the Owls grabbed their second Northeast-10 Conference win by defeating Saint Rose, 9-5. Southern was in control throughout the game as they scored at least one run in seven of eight innings. Ryan Yerina pitched a gem going seven innings allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits. Ryan Geffert led the team offensively as he hit his fourth home run of the season. He went 2-for-4 in the game with an RBI and three runs scored.

FRESHMAN CONTRIBUTION
During their three-day stay in Florida, freshmen Sam Greenberg, Ryan Geffert and Chris Zbin contributed stellar performances for the Owls. Throughout the week, Greenberg went 8-for-19 (.421 avg.) with two RBI, two doubles, a triple and three stolen bases. He also scored four runs and walked three times. Geffert was very impressive as well as he hit 7-for-18 (.389 avg.) from the plate including a game winning home run against Caldwell in the ninth. Geffert now leads the team in home runs with three. Finally, in his first start as an Owl, Zbin pitched a complete game allowing two runs on five hits and 10 strikeouts to record his first career win against Felician.

BIG TURNAROUND
Since losing their first three games to then number 18 Georgia College and State, the Owls rebounded to go 7-2 in their next nine contests. The Florida road trip gave Southern the spark they needed as they went 4-1 in a matter of three days.

FIRST WIN OF '09
The Owls grabbed their first victory of the season on Saturday, Feb. 28 as they defeated Dominican 11-4. In the win, freshman first baseman Ryan Geffert led the Owls offensively as he went 3-for-5 from the plate and drove in three runs. Southern scored in seven of the eight innings they were at-bat and out hit their opponent 13 to five. Junior Ed Bethke got the win as he pitched four and two-third innings, allowing one run on one hit and striking out five batters.

GOING DEEP
In his first career hit with the Owls, freshman first baseman Ryan Geffert went deep. In only took him three games and 11 at-bats to get his first career homerun. He is also the first Owl to hit a home run in this early 2009 season.

HEADING DOWN SOUTH
The Owls made two trips to Florida this season. On Thursday, March 12 the squad traveled to Boca Raton, Fl. for five games. They faced Bloomfield (3/12), Felician (3/13), Adelphi (3/13), St. Rose (3/14) and Caldwell (3/14). A couple days later they traveled back to Boca Raton to face St. Thomas Aquinas in a doubleheader on Friday, March 20. They remained in Florida to compete in seven games in seven days. Within those seven days, the Owls went to Ormond Beach, Melbourne, Lakeland and Tampa.

ALL-CONFERENCE RETURNERS
Of the twelve returnees from last year's squad, four earned All-Conference honors last season for their performances within the Northeast-10. Seniors Karl Derbacher, Kevin Bowerman and Justin Cox and sophomore Andrew Babb all received the award. Derbacher ranked second in the conference in hits (86), RBI (53) and doubles (20) and had the third highest batting average (.408). Bowerman hit .329 with 29 RBI and was second on the team in steals (29). Cox returns to the Owls bullpen this season after posting a 6-4 record and an ERA of 3.09 during the 2008 campaign and Babb hit .306 with 26 RBI. as a freshman.

SIGNING PROFESSIONAL CONTRACTS
Mike Diaz and Jim Fuller, both members of last year's squad, have inked professional contracts. Diaz was selected by the Houston Astros in the 30th round of the 2008 MLB Draft and Fuller was picked in the 21st round by the New York Mets. Diaz finished his career at Southern with a .365 batting average (221-for-606). On the Owls' career lists, he ranks first all-time in triples (16), second in stolen bases (73), third in hits (221) and fifth in at-bats (606). His eight triples in 2008 were a program single-season record. In 2008, Fuller led the nation in strikeouts (145), ranked second in strikeouts per nine innings (13.45) and was also among the top-10 nationally in hits allowed per nine innings and earned-run average.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB
Fourteen of the 26 players on the SCSU roster are new to the club this season. The newcomers are comprised of one sophomore, 11 freshmen and two red-shirt freshmen.

THE CAPTAINS
Seniors Karl Derbacher, Kevin Bowerman and Mike Connors will serve as team captains for the Owls this spring.

IN THE NE-10 PRESEASON POLL
The Owls were tabbed for second in this year's Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches Poll. Franklin Pierce was selected as the preseason favorite.

HEAD COACH TIM SHEA
Affiliated with Southern Connecticut State University as a student-athlete, instructor and coach for two decades, Tim Shea's long-standing relationship with the university has been a tremendously successful one. He took over as head baseball coach prior to the 2002 season after serving 11 years as an Owls assistant to Joe Bandiera. Over the course of the past seven years, Shea has compiled a 203-137 record. He guided the Owls to the NCAA Division II World Series in 2005. Shea's latest accomplishments include the 2008 Northeast Region Coach of the Year and 2008 Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors.

ON DECK
The Owls return to the field on Monday, April 13 as they travel to Massachusetts for a 3 p.m. contest against UMass Lowell.