Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After falling short in its first game of the day, the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team responded with a walk-off single in game two to split its doubleheader against Merrimack on Saturday. The Owls dropped the first contest in extra innings by the score of 3-1 but defeated the Warriors 2-1 in the second game. Jordan Hockenberry (Glastonbury, Conn.) was responsible for the game winning RBI as the Owls improved to 13-5-1 overall and 7-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference. Merrimack is now 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the conference.

The doubleheader featured strong pitching from both teams and began in game one as each starter threw a complete nine innings and then some. After the ninth, the scored remained 1-1 to force extra innings. Merrimack's offense stepped up in the top of the 10th, connecting on four hits for two runs to claim a 3-1 victory.

Ryan Yerina (Trumbull, Conn.) started and threw nine and two-third innings, allowing three runs on nine hits, striking out seven and did not record a walk. Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) led the team offensively, driving in the only run of the game with a double to right field.

Game two was the same story as neither team could get the bats going. After scoring a run in the top of the first, Merrimack was held scoreless the remainder of the game. Southern couldn't score either and did not record a run until the bottom of the ninth as they trailed 1-0 heading into the final inning.

Kyle Rosadino (Berwyn, Pa.) got on base first with a single, followed by another single by Ryan Geffert (Plymouth, Pa.) to put the tying run on second base. #A.J. Rouleau# (Westborough, Mass.) would then drive in Rosadino with another single to left field and advance Geffert to third. After an intentional walk and an out, Hockenberry stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Hockenberry beat out an infield single to drive in the go-ahead run as the Owls came back to win, 2-1.

Rouleau and Michael Cleary (West Boylston, Mass.) led the team offensively as they both went 2-for-4 from the plate. Rouleau also added a double and RBI. Kevin Pettine (Somerset, Mass.) started and went eight innings, allowing just one run on seven hits with four strikeouts and zero walks. Kyle Penney (Columbia, Conn.) entered the game in the ninth to pitch a scoreless inning and record the win.

The Owls return to action tomorrow as they travel to AIC for a 1 p.m. contest.