MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Southern New Hampshire University posted a 7-4 non-conference baseball victory over Dowling College at the Northeast Challenge at the Ripken Experience on Saturday.  The Penmen evened their record at 2-2, while the Golden Lions are now 1-2 on the season.

Sophomore Joe McCarthy (Nashua, N.H.) picked up the win on the mound for SNHU, allowing one hit and two runs in 5.1 innings of work while striking out three and walking two.  The righthander retired the first 15 batters he faced before surrendering a double to open the sixth.

Michael Mastroberti (Ramsey, N.J.) and Anthony Aceto (North Providence, R.I.) each had three hits for Southern New Hampshire, which outhit Dowling 12-5 on the day.  Manny Cruz (Wolcott, Conn.) had a two-run double in the third for the Penmen.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on Cruz's double, SNHU added a run in the fourth when Mastroberti stole home on a double steal.  Bryan Toland (Wildwood, N.J.) made it 4-0 in the sixth when he reached on a two-out double and later scored when Mastroberti reached on an error.  After Dowling scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, Southern New Hampshire tacked on two two-out runs in the seventh to make it a 6-2 game.

Benjamin Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) came in with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth after Dowling had already scored twice to make it 6-4.  After inducing a groundout to get out of the jam, he worked a 1-2-3 ninth to nail down the save.

Southern New Hampshire closes out the Northeast Challenge Sunday morning with a 9:30 contest against the University of Bridgeport.

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