When and Where: March 29, 2026 — Hooksett, N.H. (Penmen Field)
Game 1 Score: Southern New Hampshire University 4, American International College 3
Game 2 Score: Southern New Hampshire University 13, American International College 12 (8 inn.)
Records: SNHU 14-8 (6-4 NE10), AIC 10-12 (6-4 NE10)
Graduate student Shane McNamara (Londonderry, N.H.) swatted a pair of home runs and knocked in four, as the Southern New Hampshire University baseball team scored a pair of walk-off victories over American International College on Sunday in its home opener at Penmen Field. SNHU edged AIC, 4-3, in the opener, before winning, 13-12, in eight innings in the nightcap.
GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS
- McNamara snapped a scoreless deadlock in the bottom of the fifth with a solo blast to center.
- After American Int'l scored twice in the seventh to go in front, 2-1, SNHU answered in a huge way in the eighth, with back-to-back solo shots from junior Joel Valera (Boston, Mass.) and senior Kyle Lavigne (Bedford, N.H.) flipping SNHU back on top, 3-2.
- The rollercoaster continued with the Yellow Jackets pulling even in the top of the ninth, but the Penmen walked it off in the home half when McNamara led off with a double to right, went to third on an errant pick-off throw and scored when Lavigne singled up the middle to win it.
- McNamara finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, a home run and a double.
- Lavigne was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, a run scored and a home run.
- Valera (RBI, run, HR) and senior Dakota Britt (Rockwall, Texas; walk) were both 1-for-3.
- Senior Jake Lapham (Lansingburgh, N.Y.) worked the first six innings, allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out six, walking five and hitting a pair of batters.
- Graduate student Noah Wachter (Concord, N.Y.) retired all four batters he faced.
- Junior Jack Davis (LaGrangeville, N.Y.) earned the win, improving to 3-2, as he gave up a run on one hit over an inning-and-two thirds, punching out a pair and issuing a walk.
GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS
- AIC struck twice in the first to take a 2-0 lead, but SNHU tied the game in the bottom of the frame when senior Jake Pisano (Hamden, Conn.) hit an RBI double down the right-field line and later scored on a passed ball.
- Valera put the Penmen in front for the first time with a run-scoring single in the second, but the Yellow Jackets swatted a three-run home run in the third to take a 5-3 lead.
- SNHU exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the third, with McNamara's three-run blast putting the hosts up, 7-5. The Penmen then plated five runs – including four unearned – with two outs, as an RBI double from junior Casey Cumiskey (Milltown, N.J.), followed by two-run singles from Britt and Pisano, stretched the advantage to 12-5.
- A two-run home for AIC whittled the deficit to 12-7 in the fourth, before it plated five in the sixth to tie the game and eventually send it to extras.
- In the bottom of the eighth, freshman Christian Cepin (Woodside, N.Y.) drew a one-out, pinch-hit walk, moved to second on Cumiskey's base hit and scored on a game-winning single to center by senior JR Bozek (Danville, N.H.).
- Britt was 2-for-3 with a pair of walks, two RBI and two runs scored.
- Pisano (three RBI, two runs, double) and Cumiskey (RBI, run, double) were both 2-for-4.
- Valera went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
- Graduate student Marc Cisco (Long Island City, N.Y.) went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and scored three runs.
- Bozek finished 1-for-4 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
- Freshman Zak Whitney (Keene, N.H.) started and relinquished seven runs on nine hits over five innings, fanning seven and walking four.
- Redshirt-junior Zachary Brassill (No. Hampton, N.H.) was charged with four runs on two hits over two-thirds of an inning, striking out a batter and issuing two walks.
- Junior Danny Tchou (Boca Raton, Fla.) did not allow a hit over two-and-a-third innings of scoreless relief. Tchou (1-0), who struck out three and walked two batters, has not allowed an earned run over four innings in three appearances this season.
NOTES
- SNHU, receiving votes in both the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II Top 25 and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division II Baseball Coaches Poll, snapped its four-game losing skid.
- Lavigne was 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, a double and a walk in the doubleheader.
- Britt went 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI, two runs scored and three walks.
- SNHU leads the all-time series with American Int'l, 41-10, and has won 20 of the last 24, 11 of 14, nine of 11 and four straight. The Penmen have won eight of the last 10 meetings at home against the Yellow Jackets,
- McNamara's two home runs tie him for the team lead with three and give him 20 for his career.
- Valera's home run is his third of the season – and in as many games – and eighth of his career.
- Lavigne's long-ball is his first of the year and sixth of his career.
- Britt has a hit in nine of his last 10 games, including five straight. He is batting .471 (40-85) with 25 RBI and a 1.176 OPS this season.
- McNamara has hit safely in seven of eight, as well as five-in-a-row.
UP NEXT
- The Penmen close out the series with AIC on Monday (March 30) with a 2 p.m. doubleheader at Penmen Field.
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