Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Sophomore catcher Nick DeProspo's (Worcester, Mass.) third hit of the day, a run-scoring double in the top of the ninth inning, keyed a six-run rally for the No. 14 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State University baseball team in its 11-5 win in a NCAA Division II East Region winners' bracket game on Saturday morning at Yale Field. The Owls (38-11-1) tied a program single-season record for wins with today's triumph and can move to the College World Series with a win tomorrow. SCSU will take on either Franklin Pierce, Stonehill or C.W. Post on Sunday at noon.

The Ravens (38-15-1) now play either Stonehill or C.W. Post tonight at approximately 8 p.m. in an elimination contest.

The game was tied at 5-5 heading into the top of the ninth. Kyle Rosadino (Berwyn, Pa.) walked with one out to start the threat and then stole second base. DeProspo then dropped a double into center field that plated Rosadino with the go-ahead run.

After an intentional walk to Ryan Geffert (Plymouth, Pa.), #A.J. Rouleau# (Westborough, Mass.) singled to center field to bring in another run. Bryan Dorsey (Cheshire, Conn.) then plated two more runs with a single up the middle past a drawn-in infield. Eric Schlitter (Guilford, Conn.) added a RBI single later in the frame before Michael Cleary (West Boylston, Mass.) drove in the last run of the inning with a fielders' choice.

Steve Landell (Higganum, Conn.) worked the final 3.2 innings of action to earn his first win of the year. He allowed one run on two hits and struck out three.

The Ravens struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first. Cody Kauffman and Mike Dowd started the rally with consecutive singles before Derek Ingui sacrificed the runners up to second and third. Mike Munoz followed with a two-run single up the middle. After a stolen base and a single by Phil Hendricks, Munoz came home on a sacrifice fly from Nick LaCroix.

Southern Connecticut answered with four runs in the top of the third to take a 4-3 lead.

Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) and Rosadino strung together back-to-back singles to start the rally. DeProspo then attempted to sacrifice the runners up 90 feet, but Malen beat the throw to third base to load the bases.

Geffert evened the score with one swing of the bat, a three-run double down the left field line that cleared the bases. After a groundout by Rouleau, Dorsey singled through the right side to give the Owls the lead.

Franklin Pierce went in front with two runs in the sixth inning. Eric Pearson had the key hit in the inning, a single that plated two runs thanks to an Owls' outfield miscue.

Southern Connecticut tied the game with a run in the top of the seventh. With one out, DeProspo and Geffert singled. DeProspo then eventually came in to score on a fielding error.

That set the stage for the dramatic ninth inning rally that gave the Owls the win.

DeProspo paced the offense for the Owls with three hits, three runs scored and a RBI. Geffert, Dorsey and Malen each added two hits apiece. SCSU had 14 hits as a team.