Box Score BOX SCORE
When and Where: April 11, 2018 – Rindge, N.H. (Pappas Field)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 3, Franklin Pierce University 2 (11 inn.)
Records: SNHU 18-11 (6-4 NE10, 5-1 NE10 NE), FPU 19-9-1 (9-3 NE10, 4-2 NE10 NE)
Redshirt-junior Jake Walkinshaw (Seymour, Conn.) tossed three-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief, and senior Kyle Pangallo (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) went 4-for-4 and scored the eventual game-winning run in the 11th inning, as the Southern New Hampshire University baseball team gutted out a 3-2 victory over in-state rival Franklin Pierce University on Wednesday night at Pappas Field.
With the game tied, 2-2, in the top of the 11th, Franklin Pierce nailed down two quick outs, before Pangallo singled to left on an 0-2 pitch. Redshirt-sophomore Joshua Goldstein (Haverhill, Mass.) then tripled to the gap in right-center to bring in the go-ahead run, but was thrown out at the plate attempting to dive head-first under the tag.
Walkinshaw came back out four his fourth inning of work and set down the Ravens in order, striking out a pair, to deliver the victory.
Walkinshaw (1-0) struck out six and walked three, while allowing one hit, in three-and-a-third innings, which is his longest outing of the season as he continues to work his way back
Pangallo was the only Penmen with multiple hits on the night, as he went a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Trailing, 2-1, entering the ninth inning, the Penmen were fortunate when senior Caleb Potter (Mentor, Ohio) reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and then moved up to second when the throw was errant on a bid to pick him off at first. Pangallo, then came through by hammering a ball into the gap in left center that wound up as a one-out triple that tied the game. A double play then ended the inning by nailing Pangallo at the plate.
In the home half, Chase reached on a throwing error, but Walkinshaw, who recorded the final out of the eighth, retired the next three batters he faced to send it to extras.
Back-to-back singles up the middle from sophomore Tom Blandini (Bow, N.H.) and freshman Idelson Taveras (Lawrence, Mass.) put runners at first and second to begin the 10th, but three straight strikeouts kept it knotted at two.
In the bottom of the frame, Brad Roberto led off with a single and stole second following a strikeout. After a walk to Mike Coggeshall, a fielder's choice grounder to third put runners at the corners with two out. Another intentional walk to Adam Chase loaded the bases before Walkinshaw struck out J.R. DiSarcina to continue the game into the 11th.
Franklin Pierce drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning when back-to-back two-out infield singles from Chase and DiSarcina put runners on first and second for Jack Duffy, who made it three infield hits in the inning with one to third that allowed Chase to score and make it 1-0.
Southern New Hampshire managed just two hits through the first five innings, with a two-out throwing error in the sixth jump-starting its offense. After redshirt-senior Ryan Sullivan (Hopkinton, Mass.) reached when the first baseman could not pick the low throw from the third baseman, freshman Dakota Mulcay (Goffstown, N.H.) made the Ravens pay with a high-fly double down the left field line that plated Sullivan ahead of the throw to tie the game at 1-all.
The Penmen looked like they would take the lead in the seventh, as singles from Potter and sophomore Jake Coro (Johnston, R.I.), followed by an error on a sacrifice bunt to third by Pangallo, loaded the bases with no one out. After a fly out to shallow right for the first out of the inning, the Ravens went to the bullpen and received two huge punch outs to keep it tied.
Following the unfortunate second inning for senior Mitchell Powers (Portland, Maine), he allowed just one hit in each frame for the remainder of his outing. The lone hit he gave up in the seventh hurt, however, as DiSarcina took the second pitch of the inning out of the yard to left to put Franklin Pierce back on top, 2-1.
Powers was solid over seven innings, allowing two runs, as he scattered eight hits, struck out two and walked a pair. Redshirt-sophomore Brendan Welch (Easton, Mass.) fanned two and walked one in two-thirds of a hitless inning.
Goldstein (RBI), Blandini, Potter (run) and Mulcay (RBI) were all 1-for-5.
Notes:
- The Penmen have now won seven of 10, as they lock up the regular-season series with the Ravens, following a 9-3 win back on March 28.
- The victory also moves Southern New Hampshire into sole possession of first place in the NE10 Northeast Division.
- The win for Walkinshaw is his first since March 11, 2017 after missing the final 39 games of last season and the first 19 of this year due to injury.
- Pangallo's four-hit game is the first of his Penmen career and the third for SNHU this season.
Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Friday, April 13 (3:30 p.m.) when they play host to Stonehill College at Penmen Field in a game that was moved from Sunday, April 15.
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