Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Southern Connecticut State University baseball team threatened Adelphi University in the top of the ninth with one out and bases loaded, but the Panthers ended the threat with a double-play to give the Owls' their eighth loss of the season on Saturday afternoon by the score of 6-5. With the loss, the Owls fall to 5-8-1 while the Panthers improve to 8-8 on the season.

Freshman Quantique White (New London, Conn.) earned his first loss of the season as he allowed one run off four hits as well as struck out two batters over 3.2 innings on the mound.

Redshirt junior Cole Bryant (Newington, Conn.) started on the mound first for Southern Connecticut and he allowed five runs off six hits while striking out two and walking two. Senior Jordan Picini (Attleboro, Mass.) came in the top of the eighth to relieve White and Picini recorded a walk for the Owls' bullpen.
 
Five different players registered two hits for Southern Connecticut's offense as the whole team finished with a total of 12 hits. Junior Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) was the only Owl to record two runs while freshman Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) and senior Jake Paul (Kingston, N.Y.) recorded two RBI, respectively.
 
Adelphi began the day scoring two runs in the top of the first to take the early lead before Southern Connecticut cut the lead in half, 2-1, in the bottom of the second as an RBI single from Paul allowed Zullo to score first for the Owls. With one out, the tying runner on second and the lead runner on first, senior Alex Wichmann (Granby, Conn.) and Paul recorded the Owls' final two outs of the inning.
 
Down by one, the Owls answered right back in the third with four runs off five hits to take their first lead of the game. With two outs, senior Jake Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.) and freshman Mike DeMartino (New Havn, Conn.) started Southern Connecticut's rally with back-to-back singles to left field before a double from Zullo tied the game at 2-2. Still with two outs and runners on second and third, Criscuolo cleared the bases with a single to center field to give the Owls their first lead of the game, 4-2. It didn't stop there as a double from Paul allowed Criscuolo to score and extend the lead to three, 5-2, entering the top of the fourth.
 
With one out and runners on second and third, Adelphi's Zack Levinson notched a two RBI single to bring the Panthers to within one, 5-4. Facing a new pitcher and with two outs, back-to-back RBI singles from Robert Vani and Eric Hassell brought the advantage back to Adelphi, 6-5, before Brett Malm grounded out to end the Panthers' rally.
 
Southern Connecticut threatened Adelphi in the bottom of the ninth was Ryan Kaplan (Fishkill, N.Y.) began the half inning with a walk before Nick Lamberti (East Haven, Conn.) moved Kaplan to second off a sacrifice bunt. With one out, the Owls continued to keep their threat alive as junior Kyle Hart (North Branford, Cnn.) and Lieberman loaded the bases after being walked and hit by a pitch. However, a line out to second base and a tag of second ended the threat and secured the win for Adelphi.

Southern Connecticut returns to action on March 21st at Nova Southeastern University. Game time is set for 6 p.m.