Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Southern Connecticut State University baseball team trailed the University of Bridgeport 3-2 heading into the bottom of the eighth before an Ethan Joyce (Exeter, N.H.) RBI single tied the game entering the top of the ninth, but the officials called the game, following the Owls' at bat in the eighth, resulting in a 3-3 tie at the SCSU Ballpark as part of the Owls' home opener. With the tie, Southern Connecticut moves to 3-2-1 while the Purple Knights shift to 2-2-1.

Freshman Brandon Rentas (Wallingford, Conn.) began on the mound for Southern Connecticut as he pitched five innings and allowed two runs off four hits while walking two and striking out two batters. Freshman Shawn Urbano (Stamford, Conn.) entered the game for Southern Connecticut in the top of the sixth and managed to allow one run off three hits. Sophomore Christopher Ramos (Shelton, Conn.) relieved Urbano in the seventh with bases loaded. Over two innings of pitching, allowed only one hit, two walks and one strikeout.

Southern Connecticut jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after two innings as an RBI single from junior Kyle Hart (North Branford, Conn.) allowed junior Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.) to cross home. Zullo opened the inning for the Owls with a walk before stealing second and advancing to third off a ground out to second by freshman Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.).

Bridgeport's Justin Carey drove in two runs off a triple in the top of the third to make it a 2-1 lead for the visitors.

In the bottom of the sixth the Owls managed to rally back to tie the game at 2-2 following an unearned run by Criscuolo. Junior McNeill Finnegan (Old Saybrook, Conn.) was given credit for the Owls' run as he was able to move Criscuolo from second to home off an error by the second basemen.

Bridgeport would tack on another run in the top of the seventh when Alec Jannotta drew a bases loaded walk with two outs, but junior Ethan Joyce (Exeter, N.H.) would even the game at 3-3 when he allowed Hart to score off an RBI single, which was unearned for the Owls.

Hart and Criscuolo lead the Owls this afternoon at the plate with a team-high two hits after each recording four at bats. Hart also recorded one of the Owls' two RBIs of the day while Joyce collected the second.

As a team, Southern Connecticut went 6-for-29 at the plate while collecting five walks and five strikeouts. Bridgeport went 8-for-30 as well as posted three strikeouts, four walks and three RBI.

The Owls are back in action on March 12th as the team begins their four-game series against Queens (N.Y.).