Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MANCHESTER, N.H. – Southern New Hampshire University belted four home runs as part of a non-conference baseball sweep of Mercy College by scores of 9-1 and 6-2 Friday at Penmen Field. The Penmen upped their win streak to four games as they stand at 29-13, while the Mavericks fall to 7-34-1.
In the sixth inning of the nightcap, senior Jon Minucci (Madison, Conn.) hit a two-run home run down the left field line that was the 20th of his career, establishing a new program record for career home runs. He snapped a tie with Jeff Weakes, who registered 19 round-trippers from 1995-98.
Southern New Hampshire scored two runs in each of the final three innings of the seven inning game two to secure the victory. In the fourth, the Penmen loaded the bases after back-to-back singles by Andrew Pezzuto (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.) and Al Stanton (Sandwich, Mass.) and a walk by Riley Palmer (Goffstown, N.H.). After a groundout by Matt Boulter (Wrentham, Mass.) that got Pezzuto at home, Stanton and Palmer would each score on successive wild pitches.
Mercy, which had staked itself to a 1-0 lead in the first, tied the game in the top of the fifth, but the Penmen scored two more times in the bottom of the frame. Minucci singled to lead off the inning and after moving to second on a Greg Pezzuto (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.) walk, scored when Zach Goldstein (Merrick, N.Y.) reached on an error on his sac bunt attempt. Brendan O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.) knocked in the second run when he beat out a bunt single down the first base line.
Minucci was 2-3 in the nightcap for SNHU, while Jeremy Lovera led Mercy with a pair of hits. Stephen Fortuna (Metuchen, N.J.) went the distance on the mound, striking out four and scattering seven hits while allowing two runs (one earned). James Patterson took the loss for Mercy, allowing four runs (two earned) in four-plus innings of action.
In the opener, the Penmen belted three home runs, including a pair in a five-run third. Palmer had a three-run blast to right, while Andy Lalli (Lakeville, Mass.) added a solo shot to left. Lalli added another home run when he led off the sixth with another ball to left closer to the line.
Palmer, Lalli and Andrew Pezzuto each had two hits in the opener, with Pezzuto also knocking in two runs, first on a third inning double then on a sac fly in the three-run sixth. Joe McCarthy (Nashua, N.H.) worked seven innings on the hill for SNHU, striking out seven and allowing six hits and one run. Mike Speranzella (Southborough, Mass.) went the final two innings, notching a strikeout.
Joseph O'Neill took the loss for Mercy, allowing six runs in three innings. Anthony McQuade and Michael Dern each had two hits for the Mavericks.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action Saturday with a noon doubleheader at UMass Lowell.
