by Vinny Amodeo
With the game tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth, junior captain Eric Hassell drove in the go-ahead run with a double over the left fielder’s head. Freshman Michael Cattani added insurance as he drove a single to right field, scoring Hassell.
This lead would prove to hold as Michael Tarpey nailed down the save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Tarpey put together a perfect ninth inning, striking out two of the three batters that he faced.
This win didn’t come as easily or comfortably as the Panthers may have liked it to. After a close to perfect pair of opening innings for starting pitcher. John Thompson. of Adelphi, the third and fourth didn’t go as smoothly.
Three straight bunts led to a fielding and throwing error committed by Thompson. This would help the Owls secure the first run of the day. In the fourth Thompson got beat by Jake Lieberman as he hit a triple scoring Tyler Criscu, who led off the inning with a single.
“I felt great going into today, after a great week in Florida and two close games against Pierce our team has been playing great baseball,” said Thompson. “I was confident with the guys behind me. My performance definitely could have been better today, I threw the ball well and had good control but fielding the position is just as important as throwing strikes”, he added
(Photo Credit: Vinny Amodeo)
Michael Ceparano took over for Thompson in the fifth and threw two shutout innings of relief before surrendering the run that would tie the game in the seventh. Ceparano surrendered two walks, which put the two runners on base.
Matt O’Connor took over in an attempt to get out of the jam, but gave up a base hit to right field by Mike DeMarti, which scored Southern Connecticut’s fourth and final run.
O’Connor threw a perfect top of the eighth, striking out two of the three batters he faced, which gave the team momentum going into their stellar half of the inning.
This win was huge for the Panthers as it leaves them with positive vibes going into this upcoming week, which includes a trip to Florida on Thursday morning. The Panthers will take the field on Friday, March 11 against Wilmington University (Del.) in Miami, FL.
The Owls will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 8 at home in New Haven, Conn. as they are slated to face the University of Bridgeport.
