MANCHESTER, N.H. – Chris O'Neil (Chelmsford, Mass.), who recently wrapped up a standout career with the Southern New Hampshire University baseball program, signed with the Worcester Tornadoes of the independent Can-Am League Tuesday and made his debut Tuesday evening. O'Neil started in center field and registered his first professional hit with a fourth inning single in a 2-0 home victory over the Newark Bears.

O'Neil becomes the fourth former Penmen player to land in professional baseball in the last month.  Garrett Jewell (Alexandria, N.H.) was recently drafted by the Minnesota Twins and recently signed with the organization, while Ryan Walfield (Stratford, N.H.) and Steve Golbranson (Abington, Mass.) have pitched in the Can-Am League.  Walfield is currently O'Neil's teammate in Worcester and has not allowed a run in 6.2 innings of relief work.

O'Neil, who was an ABCA Second Team All-Region and NE-10 Second Team selection, played in and started all but two games and hit .324 with four home runs and a team-high 42 runs batted in.  He led the Penmen and ranked third in the NE-10 in slugging percentage (.587), while his 105 total bases currently place him third in the NE-10.  O'Neil is also fourth in the league in runs batted in, while he led Division II with 11 triples.  He led the Penmen with 17 multi-hit games and closed out the season on a 16-game hit streak.  O'Neil also committed just one error in 70 chances for a .986 fielding percentage.

For his career, O'Neil ranks seventh in program history in career hits with 157, while his 90 career runs batted in place him third all-time in that category.  He also served as a two-year captain for the program.

The Southern New Hampshire University baseball team finished the 2011 season 25-22 overall, setting a single-season school record for victories.  The Penmen also finished above .500 for the first time since the 1997 season when they went 18-17.