Box Score GARDEN CITY, N.Y. – Despite a two hit performance from juniors
Ethan Joyce (Exeter, N.H.),
McNeill Finnegan (Old Saybrook, Conn.) and
Greg Zullo (Branford, Conn.), the Southern Connecticut State University fell to Southwest Division foe Adelphi University by the score of 6-4 in a Northeast-10 Conference showdown on Friday afternoon. With the loss, the Owls fall to 8-13-1 and 1-4 while the Panthers improve to 14-11 and 3-2 on the season.
Joyce, Finnegan and Zullo led the Owls this afternoon with a team-high two hits while Joyce recorded a team-high three RBI after collecting his first home run of the year.
Senior
Jason Harper (Saugus, Mass.) picked up the loss as he allowed six runs off 12 hits while striking out two and walking a batter over six innings on the mound. Senior
Jordan Picini (Attleboro, Mass.) came in to relieve Harper in the bottom of the seventh and allowed a hit and a strikeout after two innings of pitching.
Adelphi took control early, scoring all six of its runs in the first four innings of the contest as the Panthers opened the game with a 3-0 lead at the end of the second. After a scoreless third inning, Adelphi added three more runs in the bottom of the fourth, building a 6-0 lead over the Owls.
However, Southern Connecticut had a huge rally in the fifith scoring four runs off five hits to cut the Panthers' lead to two, 6-4. With one out, freshman
Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) began the rally with a single to the right side before Finnegan was hit by a pitch, putting runners on second and first. Joyce then connected for his first home run of the season and allowed three runs to cross home, cutting Adelphi's lead in half, 6-3. Still with one out, redshirt freshman
Nick Lamberti (East Haven, Conn.) continued the Owls' rally as he singled to short before senior
Jake Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.) singled to right field putting Lamberti in scoring position. Following the Owls' second out of the inning, Zullo recorded the Owls' final RBI of the game as he singled to right field allowing Lamberti to score and advancing Lieberman to second. Freshman
Mike DeMartino (New Haven, Conn.) recorded the Owls' final out of the frame and ended the Owls' fifth inning threat.
Still down by two, Southern Connecticut was able to threaten Adelphi again in the top of the seventh as a Joyce was in scoring position for the visitors', but was unable to cross home due to
Kyle Hart (North Branford, Conn.) recording the final out and the Owls' final rally of the game.
Southern Connecticut finished the game going 10-for-35 at the plate as well as recorded four runs and four RBI. Adelphi went 13-for-34 at the plate and collected six runs and six RBI.
The Owls are back in action tomorrow, April 9, at Merrimack College for a Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader.
