SNHU Baseball Splits Season Opener with Molloy

GAME 1 BOX SCORE    GAME 2 BOX SCORE

YAPHANK, N.Y. – The Southern New Hampshire University baseball team split a pair of games with the Molloy College Lions in their season opener.  The Penmen lost the first game 2-1 and then battled back in the second game to claim a 5-2 victory.  The Lions are now 2-4 overall, while the Penmen sit at 1-1. 

SNHU wasted no time getting on the board in the nightcap, as Bobby Wronski's (Arlington, Mass.) first inning sacrifice fly scored Brendan O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.) after O'Brien reached on a walk.  The Penmen would score again in the second inning, as Kevin Spatkowski (Bristol, Conn.) tripled to center field and then scored while O'Brien attempting to steal second. 

Molloy would even the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third inning, but the Penmen would regain the lead in the top of the fourth after Spatkowski doubled to left field and scored when the Molloy left-fielder misplayed a single by O'Brien.  SNHU would tack on another run in the fifth as Tim Rines (Merrimack, N.H.) would reach on an error by the first baseman, take second on a misplay by the third baseman, and score the unearned run on an error by Molloy pitcher Patrick Brown.

SNHU would round out the scoring in the sixth inning.  Eric Pelletier (Beverly, Mass.) would start the inning of by singling up the middle of the field.  O'Neil then singled through the left side, advancing Pelletier to second.  Wronski advanced both runners on a groundout, Rines would reach on a fielder's choice, and Pellitier would score on a misplay by Molloy catcher Anthony Luisi. 

Earning the win on the mound for the Penmen was Steven Golbranson (Abington, Mass.), who recorded 5.2 innings of work, holding the Lions to two runs and three hits while dishing out five strikeouts.  John Pickowicz (Hill, N.H.) and Derek Anderson (Dracut, Mass.) also saw time on the mound for the Penmen in game two.  Larry Ulip took the loss for Molloy, working four innings and giving up three runs and five hits while striking out three. 

In the opener, Molloy took a 1-0 lead after the first inning.  The Penmen would tie the game at 1-1 during the top of the seventh inning when Pelletier singled down the left field line and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  He would then advance to third on an O'Neil groundout, scoring on a Wronski sacrifice fly to right field.  The Lions would waste no time reclaiming the lead, as Molloy's Robert Inzerillo reached on a error, advanced to second on a fly to right field, stole third, and then scored an unearned run on a balk. 

Garrett Jewell (Alexandria, N.H.) took the loss for the Penmen in game one, pitching three innings and giving up one run and walking one before giving way to Brad Monroe (Hampton Falls, N.H.) who pitched the remaining five innings. Steven Stewart recorded the win for the Lions, throwing a one-hitter in eight innings of work.  He also recorded seven strikeouts. 

SNHU returns to the diamond tomorrow, continuing their stay on Long Island by facing Dowling College for a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.