Three in Eighth Propels No. 4/8 SNHU to Third Straight Elimination-Game Win at NCAA East Regional, 5-2, over Bridgeport
RINDGE, N.H. (May 22, 2016) -- A two-run double by junior first baseman Derek Bauer in the top of the eighth inning broke up a 2-2 tie to lift No. 4/8 nationally ranked and second-seeded Southern New Hampshire to a 5-2 win over fifth-seeded Bridgeport in an elimination game on the fourth day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce University at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. SNHU sophomore right-hander Jake Walkinshaw (4-0) came on in a tie game in the seventh and retired all nine batters he faced the rest of the way to shut the door for the Penmen.
With the win, SNHU improves to 48-6 and advances to play again at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, against third-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas. The winner of Sunday's 3:30 p.m. game will move on to the championship round beginning at noon Monday, and would need to defeat top-seeded Franklin Pierce twice to claim the regional title. With the loss, Bridgeport sees the program's first-ever NCAA Championship berth come to an end and concludes its season at 28-24-1.
With the game tied 2-2, SNHU surged for the lead with three runs in the top of the eighth inning. Junior shortstop Manny Cruz led off with a single to left field and moved to second on a single to center by graduate student second baseman Mike Mastroberti. Two batters later, Bauer provided the game's signature blow, as he took a payoff pitch the other way and doubled into the gap in left-center to drive home both baserunners. Following a pitching change, graduate student right fielder Ryan Gendron pulled an RBI double down the left-field line to plate Bauer.
Earlier in the day, Bridgeport had jumped to a 2-0 lead on a long home run, of an estimated 390 feet, by sophomore second baseman Bobby Schryver to the power alley in right-center, his first collegiate home run. SNHU answered with two runs in the top of the third to knot the game at 2-2, via an RBI single by Mastroberti, who would later score on a wild pitch.
Junior right-hander Ben Criscuolo made the start for SNHU and threw 84 pitches (53 strikes) over six innings, plus two pitches to the first batter of the top of the seventh. He allowed two runs on five hits, walked two, hit a batter, struck out two and did not factor in the decision.
Junior right-hander Dakota Edwards (6-7) took the ball for Bridgeport and threw 128 pitches (87 strikes) over 7.1 innings. He allowed five runs on 11 hits, did not issue a walk, threw two wild pitches and struck out seven while taking the loss.