MANCHESTER, N.H. – Junior Derrick Sylvester (Franklin, N.H.) tossed seven shutout innings to lead No. 13 Southern New Hampshire University to a 7-2 Northeast-10 baseball victory over Saint Michael's College Tuesday night at Penmen Field.  The Penmen improved to 18-6 overall and 2-2 in the NE-10 Northeast Division, while the Purple Knights are now 5-13 and 0-4 in divisional play.

Sylvester upped his record to 3-0 on the season, allowing just a pair of hits in seven innings while striking out seven with a pair of walks.  He did not allow a hit until a Nicky Elderton single with two away in the bottom of the fourth. SNHU was playing as the away team as Tuesday's game was originally scheduled to be played at Saint Michael's.

SNHU staked itself to a 5-0 lead in the top of the third as it scored five times with two outs.  The big blow came on a three-run home run by Jon Minucci (Madison, Conn.), his fifth of the season.  With 18 career home runs, Minucci is now one shy of the program record of 19 set by Jeff Weakes from 1995-98.

The Penmen also plated single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.  In the fourth, a Matt Boulter (Wrentham, Mass.) sac fly played Brendan O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.), while in the fifth, a Bryan Toland (Wildwood, N.J.) single brought home Minucci.

The Purple Knights scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings off Penmen relievers Frank Fantino (Nanuet, N.Y.) and Mike Speranzella (Southborough, Mass.).  Southern New Hampshire outhit Saint Michael's 7-5 on the evening.

Southern New Hampshire continues its seven-game homestand Wednesday afternoon when it hosts Saint Anselm College for a 3:30 Northeast-10 game.