RINDGE, N.H. – No. 12 Southern New Hampshire University edged Franklin Pierce University 5-4 in a key Northeast-10 Northeast Division baseball contest Tuesday afternoon at Pappas Field.  The Penmen, who are also ranked No. 1 in the NCBWA East Region poll, upped their record to 18-7 and 6-3 in NE-10 play, while the Ravens, ranked third in the region in the same poll, are now 18-11 and 5-4 in the league.

SNHU pushed across the winning run in the top of the eighth, taking advantage of a pair of FPU errors.  Pinch hitter Jamie Wollerman (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) reached on an one-out error and was lifted for pinch runner Jeremy Tejada (Bronx, N.Y.).  Tejada moved to second on a throwing error by Raven pitcher Paul Fahey, and over to third on a single by Tyler Fortanascio (Oradell, N.J.).  Alejandro Diaz (Old Bridge, N.J.) laid down a successful squeeze bunt to plate Tejada for the 5-4 lead and the eventual win.

Franklin Pierce scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game 4-4, but could have posted a big inning.  Justin Brock reached on an error to open the frame, and after stealing second, moved to third on a Calvin Graves single.  After SNHU intentionally walked John Razzino, whose solo home run in the fifth made it 4-3, freshman closer Benjamin Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) (left) was summoned.  Criscuolo slithered out of the inning allowing just one run by inducing a 4-3 double play that did score Brock, and registering a strikeout.

Criscuolo moved to 4-0 on the season, striking out six and allowing one hit in three innings.

Both teams scored twice in the first.  SNHU got on the board when a bases-loaded groundout by Mike Mastroberti (Ramsey, N.J.) plated Brendan O'Brien (East Bridgewater, Mass.), who led off the game by reaching on an error.  Al Stanton (Sandwich, Mass.), who was hit by a pitch, scored on a wild pitch.  In the bottom of the frame, a two-run single by Matt Walsh tied the game.

The Penmen made it 4-2 in the fourth inning.  Diaz singled with one out and moved to second on an error, coming home on a ground-rule double by Anthony Aceto (North Providence, R.I.).  After Aceto moved to third on a passed ball, he scored on an O'Brien groundout.

Diaz and Aceto each had two hits as Southern New Hampshire outhit Franklin Pierce 8-7.  SNHU starter Cole Warren (Bedford, N.H.) went 4.1 innings and allowed four hits and three runs while striking out four.  Sam Fuller (Barre, Vt.) allowed two hits and one unearned run in his 1.2 innings of work.

Southern New Hampshire returns to action Thursday when it faces Saint Anselm College.  That game, originally scheduled to be played on the Hilltop, has been moved to Haverhill Stadium in Haverhill, Mass., with the game slated for a 7:00 start.

For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter (@snhupenmen), Facebook (www.facebook.com/snhupenmen), Youtube (www.youtube.com/snhupenmen) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/snhupenmen).