CONCORD, N.H. – NHTI Baseball fell to Kent State University at Tuscarawas, 12-6, Saturday afternoon at the NHTI Baseball Field despite home runs from Camden Morrill (Raymond, N.H.) and Nick Snoonian (Ashburnham, Mass.) in the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The loss moves NHTI to 2-7 overall, while its Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) record remains unchanged at 1-5. Saturday's contest was a countable, non-conference matchup and the first of three games between the Lynx and Golden Eagles to conclude NHTI's fall schedule this weekend.
Kent State Tuscarawas jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the opening inning on three hits. NHTI answered in the bottom half when Caden Jordan (Hooksett, N.H.) singled, advanced on a wild pitch and a stolen base, and eventually scored on a steal of home to cut the deficit to 4-1.
The Golden Eagles added two runs in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth to extend their advantage to 9-1. A three-run home run from Kent State Tuscarawas' Andres Lopez in the fifth pushed the lead to 12-1.
NHTI responded in the bottom of the fifth when Nash Cooper (Murphy, Texas) drew a leadoff walk and Owen Stewart (Pembroke, N.H.) singled to right field. With two outs, Morrill launched a three-run home run to left field, bringing the Lynx within eight at 12-4.
The home run marked Morrill's second of his collegiate career and second in as many games after hitting his first in Wednesday's 9-5 conference victory at Vermont State University Randolph (Oct. 14). He is now tied for second in the Yankee Small College Conference with two home runs.
The Lynx continued their comeback effort in the sixth when Dillon Depietro (Amherst, N.H.) led off with a single to center field. After advancing to second on a passed ball, Depietro scored when Snoonian entered as a pinch hitter and delivered a two-run home run to left field, the first of his collegiate career, cutting the deficit to 12-6.
NHTI held the Golden Eagles scoreless in both the sixth and seventh innings but was unable to complete the comeback, falling by the six-run margin.
Morrill finished 1-for-3 with three RBI and a walk, while Snoonian went 1-for-1 with two RBI and a run scored. Jordan, Stewart and Depietro accounted for NHTI's other three hits.
On the mound, Kade McBeath (Vidor, Texas) pitched four innings in relief, allowing four runs, three earned, on four hits while striking out five. Brenden Ringman (Chicopee, Mass.) started and pitched two innings before Cooper worked the third.
For Kent State Tuscarawas, Lopez finished 2-for-3 with four RBI, including his fifth-inning three-run home run. Dakota Foltz added two hits and two RBI, while Wyatt Bohanon drove in three runs. Brady Quinby earned the win after pitching five innings and striking out seven.
Saturday's contest was scheduled for seven innings as part of a doubleheader for Kent State Tuscarawas, which remained at the NHTI Baseball Field for a matchup against Great Bay Community College later in the afternoon. The Golden Eagles defeated the Herons, 9-8, in seven innings.
UP NEXT
The Lynx and Golden Eagles return to the NHTI Baseball Field Sunday, Oct. 18, for a seven-inning doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m., with the second game scheduled for 1 p.m. The two contests will conclude NHTI's fall schedule.
Both games will be available to watch live on the YSCC Sports Network.
