Munoz drives home two for Ravens

Box Score

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (May 15, 2010) – Junior catcher Nick DeProspo hit a go-ahead double and sophomore first baseman Bryan Dorsey hit a two-run single as part of a six-run top of the ninth inning on Saturday afternoon to lead No. 14/26 nationally ranked and top seed Southern Connecticut State to an 11-5 victory over the No. 22/24 and second-seeded Franklin Pierce University baseball team on the third day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Southern Connecticut State at historic Yale Field. Junior left fielder Mike Munoz (Bronx, N.Y.) went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs in defeat for Franklin Pierce.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 38-15-1 and will face elimination at 7 p.m. Saturday against the winner of Saturday afternoon's elimination game between fourth-seeded Stonehill and fifth-seeded C.W. Post. With the win, Southern Connecticut State improves to 38-11-1 and will advance to Sunday's championship round against the winner of Saturday's final game. Saturday night's winner will have to win two games to claim the East Regional title.

With the game tied 5-5 heading into the ninth inning, Southern Connecticut State surged with six runs in the top of the ninth to come away with the 11-5 victory. Junior left fielder Kyle Rosadino started things with a one-out walk and then stole second, which ended the relief outing of Franklin Pierce sophomore right-hander T.J. Ferguson (Westmoreland, N.H.), who was lifted in favor of junior right-hander Rob Nicholas (Southborough, Mass.). Nicholas was greeted by an RBI double into the gap in right-center by DeProspo, then issued an intentional walk to sophomore first baseman Ryan Geffert.

From there, Nicholas surrendered four consecutive hits, including an RBI single by sophomore third baseman A.J. Rouleau and a two-run single by Dorsey. Freshman center fielder Michael Cleary pushed across the final run of the inning when he reached with an RBI fielder's choice.

Early in the game, Franklin Pierce opened up a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After senior second baseman Cody Kauffman (Blue Bell, Pa.) and sophomore catcher Mike Dowd (East Bridgewater, Mass.) singled to start the inning, Munoz lined a two-run single to center field and later scored himself on a sacrifice fly by freshman center fielder Nick LaCroix (Grafton, Mass.).

Southern Connecticut State jumped to a 4-3 lead with four runs in the top of the third inning. Geffert provided the keynote address in the inning with a three-run, bases-clearing double inside third base and down the left-field line. Dorsey later drove in Geffert with a single to right field.

Franklin Pierce reclaimed the lead at 5-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Junior designated hitter Eric Pearson (Webster, N.H.) drove in a run in the inning when he dropped a single inside the left-field line, while a second run scored on the play, thanks to an error. Southern Connecticut State tied the game with an unearned run in the top of the seventh inning to set the stage for the six-run ninth.

Graduate student right-hander Mike Adams (Orchard Park, N.Y.) started on the mound and did not factor in the decision for Franklin Pierce. Over 2.1 innings of work, he allowed four runs on four hits, walked two and struck out two. Ferguson eventually took the loss (1-2) out of the bullpen for the Ravens after Nicholas allowed the inherited runner to score. In 1.2 innings of work, Ferguson was charged with one run, did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out one.

Junior right-hander Steve Simon started and did not earn a decision for Southern Connecticut State. In 5.1 innings on the rubber, he allowed four runs on eight hits, did not issue a walk and struck out six. Freshman left-hander Steve Landell picked up the win (1-0) in relief for the Owls, as he allowed just one unearned run on two hits, walked one and struck out four over the final 3.2 innings.