Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MANCHESTER, N.H. – No. 10 Southern New Hampshire University and Stonehill College split a Northeast-10 baseball doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Penmen Field. The Penmen blanked the Skyhawks 3-0 in the opener before the guests fought back with a 5-1 win in the nightcap. SNHU now stands 32-11 overall and 19-6 in the NE-10, while the Skyhawks are now 25-16 and 14-8 in the league.
The split, combined with Franklin Pierce's sweep of league-leader Bentley means the top four teams in the NE-10 Northeast Division (SNHU 14-5, Bentley 11-4, Franklin Pierce 12-5, Stonehill 10-6) are separated by two games in the loss column.
In the opener, Southern New Hampshire got seven-plus strong innings from sophomore Tim Viehoff (Derry, N.H.) on the mound. In 7.1 innings of work the southpaw struck out nine while issuing two walks and scattered six hits. Freshman Benjamin Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.) allowed a hit and recorded all five of his outs via strikeout to pick up his 10th save of the season. Riley Palmer (Goffstown, N.H.) led SNHU with a pair of hits.
All three of SNHU's runs came in the bottom of the second. With two away and runners at second and third, Bryan Toland (Wildwood, N.J.) shattered his bat on a soft-hit ball between third base and the shortstop. Toland was able to beat out the throw for the infield single, with Palmer scoring from third. Toland stole second to give the Penmen two men in scoring position when Kyle McGinnity (Northboro, Mass.) sent a dribbler down the first base line. First baseman Anthony Pagano was unable to field it cleanly, and two runners scored as Al Stanton (Sandwich, Mass.) came from third and a heads-up Toland scored from second on the play, beating a throw to the plate.
Jim Duff was the hard-luck loser for Stonehill, suffering just his second loss of the season as he fell to 7-2. He allowed six hits and three runs (one earned) while fanning eight without a walk.
In the nightcap, the Penmen bats were stymied by Jeremy Roberts, as he allowed three hits and one run in 6.2 innings of work while striking out four and walking two. Armand Rugel allowed one hit over the final 2.1 innings to pick up his 10th save of the campaign.
SNHU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Stanton led off with a double to deep center. After moving to third on a flyout by Alejandro Diaz (Old Bridge, N.J.), Stanton scored on a sac fly by Tyler Fortanascio (Oradell, N.J.). Stonehill scored twice in the third and two more times in the fifth to build a 4-1 lead, then tacked on an insurance run in the top of the eighth.
Cole Warren (Bedford, N.H.), making his first appearance since April 1, went 2.2 innings and took the loss, allowing two hits and two runs while striking out four, but also walking four. Ian Searles (Wareham, Mass.) allowed three hits and two runs and fanned four in 2.1 innings of relief, while Joe McCarthy (Nashua, N.H.) surrendered two hits and a run in his three innings. Lucas Olen (Bedford, N.H.) needed just five pitches to get through the ninth.
Southern New Hampshire returns to action Tuesday night when it travels to Franklin Pierce University for a 6:00 Northeast-10 Northeast Division contest.
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