McGowan tosses complete-game seven-hitter

RINDGE, N.H. (May 21, 2011) – Junior right-hander Ryan Yerina and senior right-hander Mike Johnston combined to throw a six-hit shutout on Saturday night as fourth-seeded and No. 8/20 nationally ranked Southern Connecticut State downed the second-seeded and No. 15/25 Franklin Pierce University baseball team, 3-0, in an elimination game on the third day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. Freshman right-hander Kevin McGowan (Nashua, N.H.) tossed a complete-game seven-hitter and allowed just two earned runs in defeat for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce concludes its season at 40-14. With the win, Southern Connecticut State improves to 41-7-1 and will face Adelphi in Sunday's championship round beginning at noon. SCSU must defeat the Panthers twice to capture the East Regional title.

After five scoreless innings, Southern Connecticut State hit four straight singles to plate a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, junior shortstop Kyle Cummings hit a single back through the middle of the infield and moved to second when senior catcher Nick DeProspo followed with a single through the left side. Senior left fielder Kyle Rosadino then dumped an RBI single into right-center field, but was thrown out at second base trying to stretch it into a double. Junior first baseman Ryan Geffert drove in DeProspo with the second run when he bounced an RBI single back through the middle.

The Owls tacked on an unearned insurance run in the top of the ninth to create the 3-0 final. Junior right fielder Bryan Dorsey led off with a single to right and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore center fielder Mike Cleary followed and hit a groundball to second base, but junior second baseman Dan Hennigan (Downingtown, Pa.) threw the ball away, which allowed Dorsey to score from second.

In his third start of the year, McGowan tossed a complete-game seven-hitter, but took the hard-luck loss (1-1) on the mound for Franklin Pierce. He allowed three runs (two earned), walked two and struck out four.

Junior right-hander Ryan Yerina made just his third start of the season as well and picked up the win (2-1) on the hill for Southern Connecticut State. Over five shutout innings, he allowed three hits, walked two and struck out three. Senior right-hander Mike Johnston finished the shutout over the final four innings, allowed three hits and struck out four to pick up his 14th save of the season.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the official website of Franklin Pierce Athletics (http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu). Also be sure to follow the Ravens through the Department of Athletics' official Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens), its YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/franklinpiercesports) and its Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/FPUathletics).