MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Mike Hayden (Cranston, R.I.) drove in four runs to lead the Saint Anselm College baseball team to a 6-3 victory against 13th-ranked Southern New Hampshire University on Thursday afternoon at Penmen Field.
The Hawks improve to 9-15-1 on the season, including 4-5 in Northeast-10 play and 1-4 within the Northeast Division. The Penmen drop to 19-7, 5-4 NE-10, 3-3 NE-10 NE.
Saint Anselm jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI groundout from senior Robert Kelly (Aurora, Colo.), followed by a run-scoring double to left by Hayden. The Hawks then widened the gap to 6-0 with a four spot in the third. Hayden's three-run triple to right did most of the damage before sophomore Joe Morin (Salem, N.H.) plated him with a double to right-center.
Southern New Hampshire began to chip away in the fifth on a Brendan O'Brien RBI single. The Penmen added two more against Saint Anselm starter, sophomore David Kent (North Falmouth, Mass.), in the sixth on Andy Lalli's two-run homer to center, but the bullpen would hold the game there the rest of the way.
Kent (4-1) allowed three runs on seven hits, while striking out eight and walking three over 5.2 innings. Freshman Tom Hudon (Merrimack, N.H.) tossed a pair of scoreless innings as he gave up two hits, struck out three and walked a batter. Senior James Farrington (West Milford, N.J.) retired all four batters he faced – striking out two of them – for his first save of the season.
Hayden was 2-for-4 with the four RBI and a run scored, while senior Rett Ostafin (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) was also 2-for-4. Kelly went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, April 6 when they play host to American International College in their home opener at Sullivan Park with doubleheader action that begins at noon. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
