Box Score

NEW HAVEN, Conn. –  Behind a stellar performance on the mound from freshman Brandon Rentas, the Southern Connecticut State University baseball team posted its second shutout of the season with a 5-0 decision over divisional rival Le Moyne College on Saturday afternoon at the Ballpark at SCSU.

Southern Connecticut and Le Moyne are currently tied in the Southwest Division standings with a divisional mark of 8-8. The Owls, 16-23-1, still have the opportunity to secure a berth in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship, beginning next Tuesday, if they defeat the Dolphins, 25-16, tomorrow on Senior Day.

Rentas closed out today with his fourth victory of the season with nine scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and walking a batter. He also struck out four which is his third time this season with four punch outs.

At the plate, five different players combined for nine hits with a trio of Owls all recording a multi-hit afternoon. Senior Jake Lieberman (Commack, N.Y.) led the Owls with three hits and two RBI while redshirt freshman Nick Lamberti (East Haven, Conn.) and senior Jake DeRosa (North Haven, Conn.) recorded two hits a piece. Lamberti also drove in two runs along with junior McNeill Finnegan (Old Saybrook, Conn.).

Southern Connecticut opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as Le Moyne's pitcher walked senior Jake Paul (Kingston, N.Y.), advancing the runners and allowing Lamberti to cross home with no outs, putting the hosts up 1-0.

The Owls struck again in the bottom of the second, this time, scoring three runs on three hits to take a 4-0 lead over the Dolphins. Finnegan began the inning being hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a sac bunt from Ethan Joyce (Exeter, N.H.). With one out, DeRosa hit a nice single that allowed Finnegan to score making the score, in favor of the Owls, 2-0. Lamberti continued the rally with a double to right field, advancing DeRosa to third, as Lieberman cleared the bases and put the hosts ahead by four.

In the bottom of the sixth, Southern Connecticut loaded the bases for a second time as Finnegan scored thanks to an RBI walk from Lamberti.

Southern Connecticut returns to action tomorrow, May 8 as the Owls take on Le Moyne College in a divisional doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Prior to the start of the game, Southern Connecticut will be honoring its eight-member senior class.