EASTON, Mass. - The Southern Connecticut State University baseball team split a Northeast 10 Conference doubleheader against Stonehill, falling in the first game, 7-6, before responding with a 12-7 win in the second game. The Owls go to 11-17 overall and 2-7 in the conference while Stonehill goes to 13-16 overall and 4-5 in conference play.
Tyler Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) collected three hits on the day while also driving in five runs and scoring twice. In the second game, Criscuolo was 2-for-4 with four RBI. Mike DeMartino (New Haven, Conn.) and Nick Lamberti (East Haven, Conn.) also collected three hits on the day as Lamberti was 3-for-5 with a RBI and a run scored in the second game, after scoring twice in the first game, while DeMartino was 1-for-5 with a RBI in the first game and 2-4 with a RBI and a run scored in Game 2.
On the mound, Joe Nemchek (Trumbull, Conn.) picked up the win in the second game to improve to 2-0 on the year. Nemchek held Stonehill to a single run on six hits over six innings. In the first game, freshman Mike Ferrett (Hamden, Conn.) extended his scoreless inning streak to 10 2/3, but was touched for his first collegiate run allowed in the second game.
Game 1 (Stonehill 7, SCSU 6)
- The Owls jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a RBI single by Criscuolo that scored Palmer before Redahan doubled to bring home Criscuolo.
- Stonehill doubled up the Owls with a four-run second to take a 4-2 lead before pushing its lead to 6-2 with two runs in the third. Southern got one back in the fifth when John Spoto's single was sandwiched in between walks by Nolan Cloutier and Palmer to load the bases before Cameron O'Toole was hit by a pitch to force Cloutier in and make it 6-3.
- After Stonehill took a 7-3 lead, Redahan scored on a dropped pop up in the sixth before Lamberti scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to make it 7-5.
- In the ninth, Palmer reached with a single to lead-off the inning, but was retired at second on an attempted double play that allowed O'Toole to reach on the fielder's choice. Lamberti then hit a double play ball, but reached on a fielder's choice, as pinch runner Anthony Zambito was put out. Lamberti then stole second, opening up first base for Criscuolo, who was walked. After Redahan walked to load the bases, DeMartino singled to score Lamberti and make it 7-6.
Game 2 (SCSU 12, Stonehill 7)
- In the third inning, Zambito walked and then stole second before moving to third on a ground-out by Lamberti. Criscuolo then put the Owls on the board with a RBI single to right field that scored Zambito to make it 1-0.
- After Stonehill tied it in the bottom of the inning, the Owls put four runs across in the fourth. DeMartino and Mac Finnegan doubled to start the inning with DeMartino scoring on Finnegan's double. Finnegan then went to third when Cloutier reached on an error. After Cloutier stole second, Palmer reached on an error that allowed Cloutier and Finnegan to score. Zambito then walked to move Palmer to second before Lamberti singled to load the bases. Criscuolo worked a walk to force Palmer in to give the Owls a 5-1 lead.
- The Owls struck again in their next at-bats with a seven-run fifth inning to take a 12-1 lead. After the Owls loaded the bases, Palmer was hit by a pitch to score Finnegan before Zambito walked to score Cloutier. Lamberti worked a walk to bring in Spoto before Criscuolo drove in Zambito and Palmer with a two-run single. After Lamberti scored on a wild pitch, Criscuolo scored on DeMartino's single.
- Stonehill continued to chip away as they scored six runs over the last three innings to make it 12-7.
NOTES
- Owls senior captain Criscuolo has put a charge in the Southern lineup since returning from a 15-game absence against Southern New Hampshire on Friday, Apr. 5. Criscuolo is batting .333 (4-12) in the last three games with five RBI and three runs scored.
- Criscuolo's four-RBI showing is his third of the season after accomplishing it against Florida Natinoal on Feb. 16 and Molloy on Feb. 23.
- Criscuolo has now reached base safely in 10-straight games which features an eight-game hitting streak.
- DeMartino continued his hitting streak, that now stands at eight games.
- With a 2-for-3 showing, with one RBI, in the first game, Connor Redahan (Greenwich, Conn.) now has nine mulitple-hit games for the year.
- Mac Finnegan (Old Saybrook, Conn.) was 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored in the second game, spelling a nasty slump for the Owls' senior centerfielder. Finnegan had entered Saturday's doubleheader with just two hits in his previous eight games before breaking out against the Skyhawks.
- Nolan Cloutier (Wallingford, Conn.) scored three runs on the day, including two in the Owls' 12-7 route in the second game.
UP NEXT
Southern will head to Bentley for a NE10 doubleheader on Sunday, Apr. 7.
