LANTANA, Fla. - The Southern Connecticut State University baseball team defeated Post, 16-6, in their first game of the day in Lantana, Fla. on Friday, March 18, 2022. With the win, the Owls improve to 12-2 overall, while Post falls to 4-14.
David Christoforo (North Haven, Conn.) led Southern's offense, which featured four players with multiple hits and three players with multiple RBIs. Christoforo had four hits, three RBIs, and scored a run, while
Billy Sullivan (Valley Cottage, N.Y.) recorded three hits two RBIs, scored two runs, and walked once.
Connor Goggin (Prospect, Conn.) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored and
Mike DeMartino (New Haven, Conn.) scored three runs to go with two hits and an RBI.
Tony Zambito (Ridgewood, N.J.) stole two bases, scored two runs, and had an RBI and a run scored.
How It Happened
Southern erupted for 16 runs in their first game of the day. The Owls exploded for seven runs in the top of the first inning and scored additional runs in the second and third before the Eagles got on the scoreboard.
In the first, Southern sent 13 hitters to the plate on the strength of four hits and three walks, and helped out by two Post errors. Zambito led off by reaching base on an error, stole second base, and came home on a Sullivan RBI single.
Andrew Eng (Ridgewood, N.J.) walked and Coggin singled to load the bases for DeMartino, who singled home Sullivan. Drewry,
Zach Bedryczuk (Beacon Falls, Conn.), and Zambito both drew bases loaded walks, before Sullivan recorded his second RBI single of the inning. Eng brought home the final run before the end of the inning.
Christoforo singled home DeMartino in the second inning to add to Southern's lead. Zambito led off the third inning with a double and stole third base. Sullivan stole second base after a walk and Zambito came home on an error to give Southern a 9-0 lead. Post broke through with a run in the bottom of the third, but Berdryczuk scored Christoforo on a sacrifice fly to give Southern a 10-1 lead.
Owls' starting pitcher
Nick Guarino (East Haven, Conn.) allowed just one run and six hits through the games' first five innings, but Post began to break through in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored four runs to cut into Southern's lead.
Southern responded in the top of the seventh with five runs on four hits. Coggin drove home Sullivan and Eng with a double and
Mike Ferrett (Hamden, Conn.) hit a sacrifice fly to score Coggin. Christoforo then hit a two-run double to score Drewry and DeMartino and gave the Owls an 16-5 lead.
Tommy Hughes (Newington, Conn.) came to relief of Guarino and allowed just one hit and walk in the final four innings with four strikeouts.
Notes
- Christoforo had a career-high four hits, equaling a game-high for a Southern player this season (DeMartino, Feb. 19 vs Florida International).
- DeMartino has seven multiple-hit games this season, and has at least two hits in three consecutive games.
- DeMartino also recorded his 49th career double in the game. He is one shy of becoming the fourth player in program history with at least 50 career doubles.
- Sullivan and Goggin have recorded six multiple-hit games this season, while Sullivan has three games with at least three hits.
- Zambito has stolen 13-of-14 bases so far this season, now has eight consecutive stolen bases without being caught.
- He also became the fourth player in program history with at least 70 career steals. With his 71 total, he is nine away from tying Nick Lamberti for the all-time program record.
- Guriano has won all five of his decision on the mount this season, and has allowed two walks or fewer in all five starts, and one or fewer in four of five.
- Hughes has allowed zero runs in four of his five games this season and has given up just one run in one of his games so far. He has struck out at least three hitters in all five of his relief appearances this season and has allowed no more than one hit total in all five games.
Up Next
Southern will play their second game of the afternoon against Bentley.
