Box Score BOX SCORE
When and Where: March 11, 2018 – Lantana, Fla. (Santaluces Sports Complex)
Score: University of New Haven 10, Southern New Hampshire University 2
Records: UNH 9-0, SNHU 9-3
Redshirt-senior Ryan Sullivan (Hopkinton, Mass.) staked the 18th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University baseball team to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the No. 23 University of New of Haven would score 10 unanswered runs to capture a 10-2 victory Sunday at the Santaluces Sports Complex.
Graduate student Thomas Buonopane (Peabody, Mass.) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, moved up to second when sophomore Tom Blandini (Bow, N.H.) reached on an error and advanced to third on a walk to redshirt-junior John Stanton (Sandwich, Mass.) that loaded the bases. Sullivan came through with a base hit that plated a pair to give Southern New Hampshire an early 2-0 advantage.
That lead would hold up into the fifth when Joe Caico singled, stole second and scored one batter later on an error. PJ Contreras then tied the game with an RBI single before a 4-6-3 double play later in the inning netted the go-ahead run for the Chargers.
New Haven then took advantage of an error and a wild pitch to push across two in the sixth that made it 5-2. A bases loaded walk, RBI fielder's choice and a wild pitch brought in three more in the seventh to give the Chargers a six-run cushion.
They would then capitalize on two errors and a wild pitch in the ninth to plate two, including one on a Caico double.
Senior Mitchell Powers (Portland, Maine) started lasted four-plus innings, allowing three runs – two earned – on three hits, while striking out three and walking one. Redshirt-senior Jake Stearns (Plymouth, Mass.) made his first appearance of the season, relinquishing two runs on two hits and a walk in an inning-and-a-third. Redshirt-freshman Zachary Merchant (Lunenburg, Mass.) was charged with three runs, while not allowing a hit, striking out two and walking two in two-thirds of an inning. Redshirt-sophomore Brendan Welch (Easton, Mass.) fanned a pair in a scoreless frame, though he did walk in an inherited runner. Freshman Jordan Allard (Hartford, Vt.) allowed two runs – one earned – on one hit over two innings, striking out two and walking a pair.
Buonopane was 3-for-5 with a run scored, while Sullivan finished 2-for-5 with the two RBI. Senior Caleb Potter (Mentor, Ohio) had the third multi-hit performance of the day for the Penmen, going 2-for-4.
Notes:
- SNHU had a run of scoreless innings from its starting pitching snapped at 19, while the pitching staff, as a whole, had not given up an earned run in 27-and-two-thirds frames when New Haven jumped on the board in the fifth.
Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Monday, March 12 (4 p.m.) when they travel to take on Eckerd College.
For the latest on Southern New Hampshire University athletics, follow the Penmen via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and Instagram. Sign up to receive text message alerts and e-mail newsletters about your favorite Penmen teams here.
