Baseball Rally at Merrimack Falls Short

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Southern New Hampshire University would cut into a 3-0 deficit with two runs in the top of the ninth but fell 3-2 in Northeast-10 baseball at Warrior Field Thursday afternoon.  The Warriors improved to 15-23 and 11-14 in the NE-10, while the Penmen are now 6-28 and 4-21 in the league.

Trailing 3-0 entering the top of the ninth, SNHU’s Skyler Byrd (Milford, NH) would work a leadoff walk and get lifted for pinch runner Kevin Bossart (Quincy, MA).  The next batter, Jeff Giannino (Beverly, MA) singled, but was the first out when the next batter, Chris O’Neil (Chelmsford, MA) reached on a fielders’ choice, giving SNHU runners at first and third.

Scott Strong (Naperville, IL) doubled into the gap in right center, allowing both Bossart and O’Neil to score.  Strong would be thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple, and the next batter, Bob Wronski (Arlington, MA) struck out to end the game.

Merrimack got on the board in the third when Brendan Pyburn reached on a one out single and scored on a single by Mike Chandler.  The Warriors got two more in the fifth when Pyburn scored on a triple to right by Ryan Shepard.  Shepard would score when Jeff Bercume reached on an error.

Ryan Thompson (Westford, MA) had two of SNHU’s six hits on the afternoon.  Ryan Quinn (Lebanon, CT) took the loss for the Penmen, working eight innings and striking out eight while not allowing a walk.  He surrendered 10 hits.

SNHU returns to action Saturday when it hosts Stonehill College in a noon doubleheader.