HOOKSETT, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College baseball team was stymied by nationally-ranked Southern New Hampshire University on Friday, dropping both ends of a doubleheader to the Penmen at the SNHU Baseball Field.

The Hawks, who eased their way to a win over No. 23-ranked Franklin Pierce on Wednesday, fall to 6-9 overall on the season and to 1-7 against Northeast-10 Conference opponents. Southern New Hampshire has not lost in six games to start its 2021 season.

Saint Anselm dropped the opener by an 8-2 margin and was shut down in game two, falling by a 7-0 score and posting just two hits in the game. Sophomore Brady Doran (Stony Brook, N.Y.) had two doubles across the two games and junior Mike Pierro (North Andover, Mass.) had two hits, including a home run.

The Hawks return to action Saturday, Apr. 10 for another doubleheader against Southern New Hampshire. The first pitch is slated for 12 p.m. in Hooksett, N.H.

GAME ONE – Southern New Hampshire 8, Saint Anselm 2

Southern New Hampshire jumped on the board in the first inning after a ball was lost in the sun by the Hawks outfield, landing harmlessly for a two-base hit with one out in the frame. After a single to right field advanced the runner to third, an RBI groundout by the East Region's reigning Player of the Week, Dakota Mulcay, drove in the day's first run.

Saint Anselm tied the game in the top of the fourth inning as Pierro hit a booming home run to left-center field, the deepest part of the ballpark, to tie the game at one. With his long ball, Pierro extended his hitting streak to eight games and finished the streak batting exactly .500 (14-for-28) – he was hitless in the back end of Friday's doubleheader.

The Penmen took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, taking advantage of a throwing error by the Hawks with one out in the inning. After a bunt base hit, the errant Hawks throw sailed down the right field line and went nearly to the outfield fence. A fly ball to left field, hauled in by the shortstop, allowed the baserunner to score from third base.

The Hawks allowed the game's fourth run to score on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. A two-out, two-run double by the Penmen added insurance that same inning, creating a 6-1 lead for the hosts. Two more runs were plated in the bottom of the seventh, with an RBI double preceding an RBI single that all came with two outs in the inning.

Saint Anselm left the bases loaded in both the bottom of the eighth as well as the bottom of the ninth, but did get a run on the scoreboard as Doran was stuck by a pitch with the bases loaded. In total, the Hawks left 10 men on base in the contest.

Senior Will Conaton (Windham, N.H.) earned the start, striking out four batters and giving up eight hits across six innings of work. Sophomore Travis MacMurdo (Tewksbury, Mass.) relieved Conaton in the seventh inning, giving up two runs in an inning of work. Sophomore Joe Sgobbo (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) pitched one inning of scoreless relief in the bottom of the eighth.

The Penmen rapped 11 hits as three student-athletes collected two hits in the winning effort. Southern New Hampshire pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts on the day.

GAME TWO – Southern New Hampshire 7, Saint Anselm 0

In the seven-inning second game of Friday's doubleheader, the Penmen overwhelmed the Saint Anselm offense, conceding just two hits to Doran on the day. The rest of the lineup combined for 11 strikeouts and left a total of four men on base.

The Penmen jumped ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning, using a two-run home run to center field and a double play that plated a run. Four more runs came across the plate in the bottom of the sixth via two hits, a wild pitch and a fielder's choice groundout.

The strongest offensive threat for Saint Anselm came in the top of the fourth inning. The Hawks' first two batters were struck by a pitch and later advanced to third base on a wild pitch, but Penmen starter Jeffrey Praml struck out the side, all swinging, to quickly eliminate the threat.

Senior Ryan Schworer (Medfield, Mass.) allowed seven hits and six earned runs, striking out three batters. Junior Andy Grygorcewicz (Northampton, Mass.) came on in relief, striking out two batters but giving up a hit and one earned run.

Praml finished the day with 11 strikeouts for the Penmen. Southern New Hampshire had eight hits on the day.