Box Score

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. - A three-run eighth inning from Adelphi downed the Southern Connecticut State baseball team on Wednesday afternoon in a 4-3 loss. Redshirt junior Matt Burns (Cheshire, Conn.) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Jake Lieberman reached base four times with two hits, a pair of walks and a RBI. Starting pitcher Jason Harper (Saugus, Mass.) tossed six shutout innings, surrendering six hits and three walks while striking out three in a no decision. The Panthers improve to 5-9 (3-3 NE-10) with the win, while the Owls fall to 9-11 (1-3 NE-10).

After reaching on an error leading off the game, Burns quickly stole second, before being driven in on a ground ball from Nick Baviello (Orange, Conn.) to give the Owls an early 1-0 lead. Southern added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings as Lieberman singled in Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) with two outs in the fourth and Joe Breen (Nashua, N.H.) used a fielder's choice to plate Burns in the fifth.

For the second time this season, Adelphi used the late innings to overcome a multi-run deficit against the Owls. Following a leadoff walk in the seventh, Robert Vani tripled to get the Panthers on the board. In the eighth inning, the Panthers had their first four batters reach base. AU used a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt to make it 4-2. Tyler Murphy then stepped to the plate and delivered what proved to be the  game winning hit, a pinch hit two-run double to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead.

Despite being able to get the tying and go ahead runs in scoring position with two outs in the ninth, AU's Mike Cranston induced a ground ball for the final out to pick up his second save of the year.

Southern returns to action on Thursday afternoon when the team will finally host its home opener at 3:30 p.m. against American International.