Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – The No. 14 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State University baseball team was just one win away from a trip to North Carolina for the NCAA Baseball Division II College World Series but back-to-back losses to No. 24 Franklin Pierce University ended their chances as they lost 2-1 and 6-3. The Owls' (38-12-1) stellar season, which featured a Northeast-10 Regular Season Title and a No. 1 seed in the East Region Tournament, came to an end on Sunday at historic Yale Field. With the win, Franklin Pierce (41-15-1) moves on to the College World Series next weekend.

Game one featured a pitching duel between Kevin Pettine (Somerset, Mass.) and Sean Keeler of Franklin Pierce. The game went scoreless for the first five innings of play until the Ravens got on the board in the sixth, followed by another run in the seventh, to take a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the eighth, Michael Cleary (West Boylston, Mass.) led off with a single to left field and another single by Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) put runners on first and third. Kyle Rosadino (Berwyn, Pa.) then stepped to the plate and singled to center field to cut the deficit to one. However, their run didn't last long as they dropped the game, 2-1.

Pettine pitched a complete game and allowed just two runs (one earned) on nine hits. He struck out six batters and walked just one. Keeler recorded the win in seven innings and allowed just one run.

The scoring came late in game two as well. After three scoreless innings, Southern eventually got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a RBI double by Eric Schlitter (Guilford, Conn.).

The Ravens opened the game with a three-run fifth inning followed by a two-run sixth. In the top of the eighth, they added another run on a RBI single by Cody Kauffman to pull ahead, 6-1.

Southern managed a short rally in the bottom half of the inning. Jordan Hockenberry (Glastonbury, Conn.) singled to right center and advanced to second as Schlitter drew ball four. A single by Cleary drove Hockenberry across home and a fielding error by the Ravens right fielder brought Schlitter through as the Owls trailed by three.

Jose Macias of Franklin Pierce would settle down though and end any hopes of a Southern comeback as they lost, 6-3.

Ed Bethke (Branford, Conn.) received the loss and dropped to 5-2 on the season. Rob Nicholas recorded the win and is now 5-1.

Ryan Geffert (Plymouth, Pa.) led the team offensively with a 3-for-5 performance including two doubles. Bryan Dorsey (Cheshire, Conn.) and Nick DeProspo (Worcester, Mass.) both went 2-for-5 and Hockenberry, Schlitter, Cleary and Greg Malen (Stamford, Conn.) each notched a hit.

DeProspo, Geffert and Cleary were named to the 2010 NCAA Baseball East Region All-Championship team for their excellent play throughout the weekend.

The Owls fell short of their second NCAA World Series appearance but had an excellent 2010 campaign as they tied a program single-season record with 38 wins.