Box Score NEW HAVEN, Conn. – With no outs and bases loaded, redshirt sophomore
Ryan Kaplan (Fishkill, N.Y.) would drive in senior
Jake Paul (Kingston, N.Y.) in the bottom of the 10th for the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team to defeat Post University, 4-3, in a non-conference battle on Tuesday afternoon at The Ballpark at SCSU. Following today's win, Southern Connecticut snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 7-12-1 on the season while Post falls to 5-15.
Juniors
Kyle Hart (North Branford, Conn.) and
Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) led the Owls this afternoon with a team-high two hits each while Hart registered one of the Owls' four runs.
Freshman
Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.), junior
McNeill Finnegan (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and Kaplan recorded an RBI each.
Freshman
Quantique White (New London, Conn.) earned the win for the home team as he allowed five hits while striking out four batters. Redshirt Junior
Cole Bryant (Newington, Conn.) began the game for Southern Connecticut as he allowed three runs off five hits as well as struck out five and walked three over 5.0 innings on the mound.
Southern Connecticut struck first in the bottom of the second as freshman
Mike DeMartino (New Haven, Conn.) began the inning reaching first on an error by the catcher. Following a walk by Paul, Criscuolo advanced the runners to second and third thanks to a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Finnegan singled to right field allowing DeMartino to score before the Owls recorded the final two outs of the inning.
Southern Connecticut's lead did not last long as Post scored two earned runs in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. However, in the bottom of the third, Paul tied the game, 2-2, for the Owls as he allowed senior
Jake Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.) to score with bases loaded and two outs.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Post tallied an unearned run in the top of the fifth to take a 3-2 lead before an RBI from Criscuolo, in the bottom of the fifth, tied the game again at 3-3. With one out, Hart began the rally with a single to left field before advancing to second off a single from Zullo. Still with one out, Southern Connecticut loaded the bases, but Paul put the Owls' threat in danger as he recorded the second out. Criscuolo saved the inning as the visitors' pitcher walked Criscuolo allowing Hart to score.
Southern Connecticut and Post remained scoreless over the next four frames and sent the game into extra innings. Post went down 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th before Southern Connecticut loaded the bases with no outs in the final half inning. Paul started the bottom of the 10th with a double down the left field line before Criscuolo reach first on an error by the pitcher while Paul advanced to third. Post's pitcher, Michael Calo, intentionally walked Finnegan to load the bases, but Post's catcher was unable to make the out at home, allowing Paul to cross home, thanks to Kaplan's single.
The Owls are back in action tomorrow against New Haven. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m.
