RINDGE, N.H. – No. 22 Southern New Hampshire University swept a non-conference baseball doubleheader from Merrimack College by scores of 5-4 and 12-1 Monday in a twinbill played at Pappas Field on the campus of Franklin Pierce University.  The Penmen upped their record to 12-5, while the Warriors now stand 6-5 on the season.

In the opener, the Penmen trailed 4-2 after seven innings, but plated two runs in the eighth and broke the tie with a run in the bottom of the ninth.  Ryan Gendron (Nashua, N.H.) led off the inning with a single, and after a failed sac bunt attempt that saw a pop out, pinch hitter Kyle McGinnity (Northboro, Mass.) delivered a triple to the gap in left center to bring in Gendron.

In the eighth, Manny Cruz (Wolcott, Conn.) worked a leadoff walk and scored on a triple to right by Carson Helms (Farmington, Conn.) after the Merrimack right fielder made a diving attempt at a sinking line drive that came up short.  Helms scored on a sac fly by Mike Montville (Portsmouth, N.H.).

Merrimack took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but SNHU answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.  With two outs, Helms was hit by a pitch, then scored on a Montville double.  Alejandro Diaz (Old Bridge, N.J.) tied the game when his single plated Montville.  The Warriors grabbed single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to build a 4-2 lead.

Alex Person (Foxboro, Mass.) improved to 3-0 on the season, working 4.1 innings of relief and allowing one hit and one run while striking out seven without a walk.  He relieved Justin Valdespina (Garfield, N.J.), who went the first 4.2 innings and allowed three hits and three runs (one earned), striking out seven but walking five.

Merrimack jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the nightcap before Southern New Hampshire broke the game open with two runs in the fifth, five in the sixth, three in the seventh and a pair in the eighth.  Gendron belted a three-run home run in the seventh and finished 2-3 at the plate, while Zach Goldstein (Merrick, N.Y.) also drove in three runs and went 2-5.  Cam Oliveira (Tewksbury, Mass.) had three hits, including an RBI single in the fifth, while Lorenzo Papa (Stoneham, Mass.) hit a two-run home run in the sixth.

David Gibson (Hanover, Mass.) went five innings on the hill and picked up his third victory of the season, allowing two hits and one unearned run while striking out three and walking four.  Four Penmen relievers each worked an inning and combined to allow just three hits and striking out five as they tossed four scoreless frames.

Southern New Hampshire is scheduled to return to action Saturday with a doubleheader at Southern Connecticut State University.

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