MANCHESTER, N.H. – Seven shutout innings from Junior Mendez (Patchogue, N.Y.) and a quick start with three runs in the top of the first inning lifted fourth-seeded Southern New Hampshire University to a 9-0 win over No. 3 seed University of New Haven Thursday night in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship East Regional at Penmen Field.  The Penmen, who improve to 34-17, will face fifth-seeded Pace University, a 3-0 winner over Saint Thomas Aquinas College, Friday night at 7:00.  The Chargers are now 33-15 and face elimination when they take on sixth-seeded Franklin Pierce University at 3:00 Friday.

Mendez upped his record to 9-3 as he struck out nine in seven innings of work while allowing just four hits.  His nine wins tie the single-season school record set by Tim Flight last season.  David Gibson (Hanover, Mass.) and Joe McCarthy (Nashua, N.H.) each struck out the side in an inning of relief to complete the shutout.

Southern New Hampshire scored three times in the first inning, taking advantage as Charger starter Henry Hirsch issued five walks before getting replaced after recording just one out.  Riley Palmer (Goffstown, N.H.) worked a bases-loaded walk, the fourth straight to open the game, then Andy Lalli (Lakeville, Mass.) hit a sac fly to make it 2-0.  Andrew Pezzuto (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.) scored the third run on a wild pitch.   The Penmen tacked on a run in the second when Brendan O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.) and Matt Boulter (Wrentham, Mass.) led off the frame with back-to-back triples.

The Penmen broke the game open with five runs in the fifth, sending 10 men to the plate.  Tyler Poisson (Rochester, N.H.) worked a bases-loaded walk, then Zach Goldstein (Merrick, N.Y.) reached on an error, allowing two runs to score.  An RBI double by Boulter and a groundout by Palmer brought in the other runs.

O'Brien, Boulter, Lalli and Goldstein had two hits apiece as the Penmen outhit the Chargers 11-4.  Joey Royer worked 4.2 innings of relief and allowed seven hits and six runs, while Taylor Candage tossed four shutout innings, allowing three hits while fanning three.

Lower seeds won all three games in the first round of the regional via shutout, as sixth-seeded Franklin Pierce blanked top-seeded Wilmington (Del.) 7-0, while Pace was the fifth seed in its victory.  STAC and Wilmington meet in an 11 am elimination game to open the day Friday.