Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Ryan Geffert (Plymouth, Pa.) hit a two-run home run on Sunday as the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team defeated AIC by the score of 3-1. The Owls have now won eight of their last nine contests and improve to 14-5-1 overall and 8-1 in the Northeast-10 Conference. The Yellow Jackets have fallen to 5-12 overall and 2-5 in the NE-10.

With two outs in the top of the second, Eric Schlitter (Guilford, Conn.) reached second base with a single to right field followed by an error to put him in scoring position. Jordan Hockenberry (Glastonbury, Conn.) stepped to the plate and doubled down the left field line to bring in Schlitter and put the Owls ahead 1-0.

The Owls added two more runs in the top of the third. Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) was hit by a pitch to get on base and would later score as Geffert hit his third home run of the season. Southern led 3-0 after three innings.

AIC scored a run in the bottom of the fourth but didn't score again as Ed Bethke (Branford, Conn.) recorded the win in a starting effort. He went six innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out four. Michael Johnston (Thomaston, Conn.) got the save in three innings of relief. He gave up just one hit and struck out three batters.

Schlitter led the team offensively as he went 2-for-3 from the plate, walked once and scored once. Geffert, Hockenberry, #A.J. Rouleau# (Westborough, Mass.) and Michael Cleary (West Boylston, Mass.) each recorded a hit for the Owls.

Southern returns to The Ballpark at SCSU on March 30 to host non-conference opponent Caldwell at 3 p.m.