Box score

RINDGE, N.H. (May 20, 2016) -- Three runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth allowed second-seeded and No. 4/8 nationally ranked Southern New Hampshire to live to see another day on Friday afternoon at the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce University. The Penmen picked up an 11-5 win over sixth-seeded Molloy at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field, in the tournament's first elimination contest.

With the win, Southern New Hampshire improves to 46-6 and will face elimination again at 11 a.m. Saturday, against the loser of Friday's 5:45 p.m. game, between fourth-seeded Felician and top-seeded Franklin Pierce. With the loss, Molloy sees its first-ever NCAA berth come to a close and concludes its season at 31-23.

Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth, SNHU junior center fielder Carson Helms opened the frame with a double down the left-field line, before junior first baseman Derek Bauer followed and scorched a line drive off the glove of the Molloy first baseman and into the right-field corner for an RBI triple. Later, graduate student right fielder Ryan Gendron was hit by a pitch and stole second to put runners at second and third with one out, when freshman catcher Joshua Zbierski picked up an RBI on a strange play. Zbierski hit a sharp ground ball to shortstop and reached at first with a fielder's choice, after the ball caromed off junior shortstop Brian Murphy and straight to senior second baseman Deilyn Guzman, who threw out Gendron at third base. Zbierski would later score from first on a fly-ball single by sophomore left fielder Sean Webster, which the Molloy center fielder lost in the sun.

Helms had the biggest blow of the fifth inning, as he clubbed his ninth home run of the season, a three-run shot of an estimated 350 feet to straightaway left. Zbierski added an RBI single to score Gendron later in the inning, as the Penmen ballooned the lead to 7-1.

Molloy made things interesting with a four-run bottom of the sixth inning, but could not complete the rally. Junior designated hitter Elijah Leerdam opened the inning with a double and later scored on an error. Sophomore catcher Jack McCarty had an RBI single in the inning, his second of the game, while sophomore first baseman Angelo Navetta added a sacrifice fly and the Lions scored a run on a passed ball, as well. SNHU tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh, and then Molloy left the bases full in the bottom half of the inning, before SNHU junior first baseman Derek Bauer clubbed a three-run homer in the top of the eighth and the game went on to its 11-5 final.

Sophomore right-hander Justin Valdespina (10-3) took the ball and threw 96 pitches over five-plus innings on the hill for SNHU. He was ultimately charged with five runs (three earned) on 11 hits, walked two, balked once and struck out five while picking up the win.

Sophomore right-hander Anthony Catinella (6-4) threw 93 pitches over the first four-plus innings on the mound for Molloy. He allowed five runs on six hits, walked two, threw two wild pitches and struck out seven while taking the loss.