BOX SCORE

When and Where: February 23, 2017 – Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Ripken Experience)
Score: Long Island University-LIU Post 4, Southern New Hampshire University 3
Records: LIU Post 2-3, SNHU 0-1

Junior Mitchell Powers (Portland, Maine) tossed five innings of two-run ball and left with a lead, but the sixth-ranked Southern New Hampshire University baseball team lost its season opener to Long Island University-LIU Post, 4-3, Thursday evening to open its five-game trip in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

After Powers worked around a leadoff walk and a two-out error to escape the first inning unscathed, the Penmen gave him some support in the top of the second as redshirt-junior Taylor Olmstead (Greenwich, Conn.) ripped a two-out RBI single into left to score junior Caleb Potter (Mentor, Ohio), who drew a walk in his Southern New Hampshire debut.

Powers continued to cruise, recording a 1-2-3 second before receiving another run via an RBI groundout from senior Derek Bauer (Millis, Mass.) in the top of the third, and then striking out the side in the bottom of the frame and posting another three-up, three-down inning in the fourth.

SNHU stretched its lead to 3-0 in the fifth as junior Sean Webster (Boston, Mass.) led off with a single, stole second and third, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of graduate student Zach Goldstein (Merrick, N.Y.).

LIU grabbed a pair back in the bottom of the inning as Dave Brehm, Kenny Daley and Michael Greene led off with consecutive singles that brought in the first run before Rob Andreoli followed a 5-4-3 double play with another base hit that trimmed the deficit to 3-2.

The Pioneers struck for two more in the sixth against the Penmen bullpen, getting a leadoff walk from Jimmy Mendyk before singles from Thomas Asbaty and Anthony Vaglica tied the game and a 6-4-3 twin killing yielded the go-ahead run.

Southern New Hampshire looked to be in great position to at least tie it in the eighth following a leadoff walk from junior Kyle Pangallo (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) and a Goldstein single, but a 6-4-3 double play took the air out of the sails before a strikeout stranded the tying run at third. The Penmen then went in order in the ninth, striking out three times to end it.

Powers allowed two runs on four hits, while striking out six and walking just one over five innings. Redshirt-junior Andrew Lalonde (Bedford, N.H.) was tagged with the loss after relinquishing two runs on a pair of hits and a walk in an inning of work. Freshman Ryan Steffens (Commack, N.Y.) gave up one hit and recorded a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning, while redshirt-freshman Brendan Welch (Easton, Mass.) retired all four batters he faced, including one by way of the K.

Goldstein finished 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI, while Olmstead (RBI) and Webster (walk, run) were both 1-for-3. Redshirt-junior Ryan Sullivan (Hopkinton, Mass.) had the other Penmen hit, going 1-for-4.

Notes:
- The Penmen start 0-1 for just the second time in the last six seasons.
- This was the first start of Powers' career after pitching out of the bullpen during his first two years with Southern New Hampshire.
- Goldstein has recorded a hit in 17 straight games dating back to last season.

Up Next:
The Penmen are back in action Friday, February 24 (12 p.m.) when they take on Mercy College

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