MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – No. 18 Southern New Hampshire University swept a non-conference baseball doubleheader from the University of Bridgeport and Felician College by scores of 16-1 and 6-4 Friday afternoon at the Ripken Experience.  The Penmen are now 2-3 on the season, while it marked the season opener for the Purple Knights.  The Golden Falcons, like the Penmen an NCAA tournament participant a season ago, fall to 0-4.

In the opener, SNHU jumped all over Bridgeport early, scoring a run in the first, four in the second and three in the third to take an 8-0 lead.  The Penmen posted three runs apiece in the fifth and sixth innings before closing out the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Mike Montville (Portsmouth, N.H.) led SNHU by going 3-5 with a home run, a two-run triple and four RBI on the day.  Zach Goldstein (Merrick, N.Y.) also drove in four runs, including a two-run triple, while Manny Cruz (Wolcott, Conn.) went 3-3 with three RBI.  Alejandro Diaz (Old Bridge, N.J.) also had a pair of hits.

Mike Robert (Nashua, N.H.) evened his record at 1-1 on the season, allowing four hits and one run in six innings, striking out four and walking five.

In the nightcap, SNHU scored three times in the top of the top of the fifth to take a 6-2 lead.  Cruz scored on a wild pitch, while Diaz delivered a two-run double down the left field line to plate Montville and Carson Helms (Farmington, Conn.).  The Golden Falcons scored twice in the bottom of the frame to pull within 6-4, but got no closer.

Felician took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first before SNHU scored twice in the top of the second.  A Ryan Gendron (Nashua, N.H.) sac fly scored Montville, while a Tyler Fortanascio (Oradell, N.J.) single plated Lorenzo Papa (Stoneham, Mass.).  The Penmen tacked on another run in the third via error.

Redshirt freshman Justin Valdespina (Garfield, N.J.) earned his first win, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) in six innings while fanning five and walking one.  Jake Walkinshaw (Seymour, Conn.) worked two perfect innings with a strikeout to get to Ben Criscuolo (Branford, Conn.), who struck out two in the ninth for his first save of the season.

Helms and Montville each had two hits for Southern New Hampshire as the Penmen outhit the Golden Falcons 9-5.

Southern New Hampshire is back in action Saturday when it faces Mercy College in a 4:00 twinbill at the Ripken Experience.

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).  Sign up to receive text message alerts and email newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams here: http://www.snhupenmen.com/list-signup