Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Despite holding a 6-1 lead entering the bottom of the eighth, the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team was unable to stop Southern New Hampshire from scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th to secure the 7-6 walk-off win on Friday afternoon. The Penmen scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth before tying the game, 6-6, in the ninth inning.

Following today's loss, Southern Connecticut falls to 5-7-1 while Southern New Hampshire improves to 14-1 on the season.
 
Sophomore Christopher Ramos (Shelton, Conn.) picked up the tough loss for the Owls as he allowed two runs (both earned) off six hits over the final two innings of play. He also recorded two walks and a strikeout and falls to 1-1 on the season. Freshman Brandon Rentas (Wallingford, Conn.) started first on the mound for the Owls and pitched a total of 7.2 inning and allowed five runs (three earned) and eight hits. Senior Jordan Picini (Attleboro, Mass.) allowed only one hit before Ramos relieved him in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Senior Jake Paul (Kingston, N.Y.) led the Owls' offense with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate while freshman Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) collected a team-high three RBI. Freshman Mike DeMartino (New Haven, Conn.) recorded two RBI as well as registered a team-high two runs, along with senior Jake Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.).
 
Following a scoreless first inning, Southern New Hampshire struck first with the early 1-0 lead as a sacrifice fly from the Penmen allowed an unearned run to score. However, Southern Connecticut struck back in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. With two outs, DeMartino started the Owls' rally with a single to right field before Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) doubled to centerfield allowing DeMartino to score.
 
After another scoreless inning by both teams, Southern Connecticut extended its lead three, 4-1, after scoring three runs off two hits in the top of the sixth. With two outs and bases loaded, Criscuolo's RBI double allowed all three base runners to score, before Crisuolo was out at third.
 
With one out and runners on first and second in the top of the eighth, DeMartino connected for his first RBI of the game as he doubled to right field, allowing Lieberman and Ethan Joyce (Exeter, N.H.) to score, extending the Owls' lead to five, 6-1. But, in the following half inning, the Penmen answered right back to within one, 6-5, after scoring four runs off five hits and one Southern Connecticut error.
 
With the score in favor of Southern Connecticut, 6-5, in the ninth inning, Southern New Hampshire managed to tie the game at 6-6 after Mastroberti singled to centerfield allowing Goldstein to score, sending the game into extra innings.
 
Southern Connecticut threaten the Penmen in the top of the 10th as Joyce was about to score, but the hosts' left fielder made a nice throw to home to secure the final out of the inning, leaving two Owls on base. Southern New Hampshire began the bottom of the 10th with no outs and a runner on second before the Owls stopped the winning runner from crossing home off to a double-play by the third and first basemen.
 
In the top of the 11th, Southern New Hampshire held Southern Connecticut from having no runners on base before securing the 7-6 win in the bottom of the 11th off a walk-off hit by Mastroberti.
 
The Owls are back in action tomorrow against Adelphi University beginning at 11 a.m.