Box Score

Post-Game Comments From Head Coach Tim Shea

Post-Game Interview With Steve Simon

Post-Game Interview With T.J. Shea

CARY, N.C. – Senior pitcher Steve Simon (Middlefield, Conn.) worked into the eighth inning and freshman designated hitter T.J. Shea (Hamden, Conn.) had two hits, including a three-run home run, three RBI and two runs scored as the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team rallied from an early deficit to defeat No. 11 nationally ranked Sonoma State on Wednesday evening, 6-4.

The Owls improved to 45-8-1 on the year with the win and will play Winona State in another must-win game on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Sonoma State's season ended at 37-22 with the loss.

Sonoma State struck first with three runs in its first at-bat. The Owls put two runners on in the bottom of the first but were unable to score.

Southern Connecticut tied the game with three runs in the bottom of the second. Bryan Dorsey (Cheshire, Conn.) walked to lead off the frame and one out later, Michael Cleary (West Boylston, Mass.) singled to put two runners on. Shea followed with his second home run of the year, a no-doubter over the right field wall that evened the score at 3-3.

The Owls took the lead with a run in the third. A.J. Rouleau (Westborough, Mass.) doubled down the right field line to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Cleary, T.K. Kiernan (Wallingford, Conn.) executed a perfectly placed suicide squeeze in which all Owls were safe on the play and gave the Owls their first lead of the night.

Southern Connecticut added another run in the bottom of the sixth. Shea doubled halfway up the right field wall to begin the threat. Kyle Cummings (Hamden, Conn.) moved Shea to third with a sacrifice bunt before Shea scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3.

The Owls added another run in the seventh. Dorsey singled to open the inning and moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by Kiernan. Cleary followed with a ground ball, but when the throw went awry, he reached safely and Dorsey scored all the way from second.

Simon, who gave up three runs on two hits in the first inning, allowed only one run on six hits as he worked into the eighth inning. After meriting consecutive singles to open the frame, Michael Johnston (Thomaston, Conn.) entered in relief. He induced a double-play grounder that did score a run before forcing a flyout to end the inning. He then retired the side in order in the ninth.

Simon improved to 7-1 with the win, while Johnston notched his 16th save of the year with the win.

Rouleau, Cleary and Shea all had multiple hits in the winning effort.