Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut State University baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader at home against Queens (N.Y.) College on Sunday afternoon. Southern Connecticut took game one from the visitors by the score of 9-7, but Queens picked up the 4-3 win in game two after seven innings. Following the win and the loss, the Owls are now 4-5-1 on the season while the Knights are 5-6.
GAME 1: So. Conn. St. 9 | Queens 7After a scoreless four innings, Queens broke the silence in the top of the fifth as the Knights took a 4-0 lead over the Owls. In the fifth, the Knights scored four runs off four hits and two Southern Connecticut errors before extending their lead to 5-0 after scoring a run in the top of the sixth.
Down by five, the Owls' offense began firing on all cylinders in the bottom of the seventh as the hosts scored eight runs off six hits while leaving three runners on base to take an 8-5 lead. The inning started off with no outs and bases loaded before an RBI single to right field by
Mike DeMartino (New Haven, Conn.) gave the Owls' their first run of the game. Bases remained loaded as
Kyle Hart (North Branford, Conn.) recorded the Owls' second RBI of the game as his groundout to the first basemen allowed
Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) to score and cut the visitors' lead to three, 5-2. With runners on second and third, one out,
Jake DeRosa (North Haven, Conn.) and Joe Ucello (Glastonbury, Conn.) recorded back-to-back RBI to cut the lead to within one, 5-4, forcing Queens to go to its bullpen. With a new pitcher on the mound and two outs, Uccello tied the game for the Owls as he crossed home after a single from
Nick Lamberti (East Haven, Conn.). Southern Connecticut remained in control on offense as Lamberti,
Ethan Joyce (Exeter, N.H.) and
Jake Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.) scored to give the Owls an 8-5 lead.
Queens was unable to answer back in the eighth after great pitching on the mound from
Austin Brochu (Winsted, Conn.). Southern Connecticut tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning after an RBI sac bunt from Joyce to push its lead to four, 9-5.
The Knights were able to tack on two more runs in the ninth to cut the lead to two, 9-7, but
Shawn Urbano (Stamford, Conn.) was able secure the win after striking out the final batter.
Lieberman and
Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) led the Owls' offense with a team-high two hits while DeMartino posted a team-high two RBIs.
As a team, Southern Connecticut went 7-for-29 at the plate as well as recorded nine runs, eight RBI, six walks and two strikeouts.
Freshman
Quantique White (New London, Conn.) picked up his first win for the Owls as he allowed one run off one hit while striking out two and walking one batter over three innings.
Game 2 (7 innings): Queens 4 | So. Conn. St. 3Queens opened game two with the quick 2-0 lead until the bottom of the second as the Owls scored three earned runs to take the one-point lead. Hart picked up his second RBI of the day as his double to right field allowed DeMartino to cross home first. Uccello's sacrifice fly to right center tied the game at 2-2 before Lamberti drove in
Alex Wichmann (Granby, Conn.) to give the Owls their first lead of game two, 3-2.
The game remained scoreless until the top of the seventh as the Knights capitalized on offense scoring two runs off two hits to regain the lead, 4-3. Southern Connecticut was able to get the tying run on base as Lamberti began the inning with a single. With two outs, Lamberti was able to make it to third to keep the threat alive, but Zullo was unable to bring the runner home due to strike out.
Three different Owls scored a run while both Lambert and Joyce went 2-for-4 at the plate. Lamberti, Hart and Uccello tallied one of the Owls' three RBI.
Freshman
Brandon Rentas (Wallingford, Conn.) picked up the loss as he allowed four runs to score over six innings of play. He also recorded seven hits, three strikeouts and a walk.
Up NextSouthern Connecticut returns to action on March 16 as the Owls travel to Florida to take on Saint Thomas Aquinas.
