BOX SCORE
RAPID REACTION WITH SOPHOMORE WESLEY TOBIN

When and Where: April 27, 2018 – Hooksett, N.H. (Penmen Field)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 2, Merrimack College 1
Records: SNHU 27-12, Merrimack 21-15

Sophomore Wesley Tobin (Portsmouth, N.H.) worked out of a huge spot in the eighth inning to back up a stellar performance from junior Endy Morales (Holyoke, Mass.), as the Southern New Hampshire University baseball team won its eighth straight Friday night with a 2-1 victory against Merrimack College in non-conference action at Penmen Field. 

Southern New Hampshire was first to break through, pushing a run across in the bottom of the third when senior Kyle Pangallo (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) led off with a single to right, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from redshirt-sophomore Joshua Goldstein (Haverhill, Mass.) and scored when sophomore Tom Blandini (Bow, N.H.) slashed a double down the right field line. 

Merrimack used a little good fortune to tie the game in the top of the fourth, as Tyler Lyne led off by hitting a fly ball to left that the outfielder lost in the lights and fell in for a double. Lyne then moved to third on a passed ball and, following a strikeout, scored on another passed ball. Morales then struck out the next two batters to end the inning. 

Both starting pitchers matched zeroes over the next three innings before Merrimack loaded the bases with one out in the eighth. Tobin came out of the bullpen and was thrown into a tough spot, but needed just three pitches to induce an inning-ending 6-3 double play that kept it tied. 

That would prove massive, as the Penmen grinded out the eventual game-winning run in the home half of the inning. After graduate student Thomas Buonopane (Peabody, Mass.) led off the frame by getting hit with a pitch, redshirt-senior Ryan Sullivan (Hopkinton, Mass.) followed by lining a single to center and freshman Dakota Mulcay (Goffstown, N.H.) moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. It would then be a wild pitch that brought in Buonopane from third to make it 2-1. Following an intentional walk to senior Caleb Potter (Mentor, Ohio) two batters later, SNHU would leave the bases loaded. 

Tobin came back out for the ninth and recorded the first two outs before letting up a base hit. Redshirt-sophomore Brendan Welch (Easton, Mass.) then came in to induce a ground ball to second that ended it. 

Morales allowed one run – unearned – on two hits, while striking out a career-high 11 and walking just one. Tobin (3-1) was huge in relief, spinning one-and-a-third shutout innings, giving up just one hit and striking out one. Welch retired the only batter he faced for his first save. 

Pangallo finished 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored, while Potter was 1-for-3 with a walk. Blandini (RBI), Sullivan and Stanton were all 1-for-4. Buonopane went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored. 

Notes:
- The Penmen have now won 16 of 20, including eighth straight, while snapping Merrimack's six-game winning streak.
- Southern New Hampshire is outscoring opponents 74-14 during its eight-game winning spree.
- Southern New Hampshire is now 10-2 at home this season and improves to 69-15 (.821) at Penmen Field since the start of the 2014 season.
- Goldstein and Buonopane both saw their hitting streaks come to an end at seven straight.
- Over the last 12 games, Pangallo is 23-for-44 (.523) with 16 RBI and 12 runs scored, while slashing .604/.705/1.309. During that stretch, he has raised his batting average 84 points to .351.

Up Next:
The Penmen return to action Saturday, April 28 (3/6 p.m.) when they take on Merrimack in a divisional doubleheader at Holman Stadium in Nashua, N.H. The next home game for SNHU is Tuesday, May 1 (4/7 p.m.) when it plays host to Saint Michael's College in a doubleheader at Penmen Field. The first game of the twinbill will air on FOX College Sports.

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