CONCORD, N.H. – Sean Kilcoyne (North Andover, Mass.) delivered a dominant two-way performance Sunday afternoon, hitting a first-inning grand slam and throwing a complete game with 11 strikeouts as NHTI Baseball defeated Kent State University at Tuscarawas, 5-1, in the second game of a doubleheader at the NHTI Baseball Field.
The victory came after the Lynx fell to the Golden Eagles, 10-1, in Sunday's opening contest, giving NHTI a split in its final doubleheader of the fall season.
NHTI concludes its fall schedule with a 3-8 overall record following three consecutive games against Kent State Tuscarawas over the weekend. All three contests were countable non-conference matchups and did not impact the Yankee Small College Conference standings.
Game One: Kent State Tuscarawas 10, NHTI 1
Kent State Tuscarawas opened the doubleheader with a 10-1 victory, scoring nine runs across the fifth and sixth innings after holding a 1-0 advantage through four.
The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the first inning when Rocco Norch was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing home Jaxon Monnard.
NHTI starting pitcher TJ Charbono (Franklin, N.H.) held Kent State Tuscarawas scoreless over the next three innings, finishing his outing with six strikeouts while allowing three hits and one unearned run across four innings of work.
The Golden Eagles broke the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits to extend their lead to 5-0. Kent State Tuscarawas added five more runs in the sixth, highlighted by RBI hits from Dakota Foltz and Braydon Maine.
NHTI got on the board in the bottom of the sixth when Brenden Ringman (Chicopee, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk and Caden Jordan (Hooksett, N.H.) followed with a single. After a flyout, wild pitch and walk loaded the bases, Pierre Mendez (Manchester, N.H.) delivered an RBI single to center field, scoring Ringman for the Lynx's lone run.
Jordan led NHTI offensively, finishing 2-for-4, while Mendez recorded the team's other hit and lone RBI. Ringman reached base three times on walks and scored the Lynx's only run.
Game Two: NHTI 5, Kent State Tuscarawas 1
NHTI responded in the second game behind Kilcoyne, who delivered one of the Lynx's strongest individual performances of the fall season both at the plate and on the mound.
Jordan opened the bottom of the first inning with a double to right field before Ringman and Owen Stewart (Pembroke, N.H.) drew consecutive walks to load the bases with nobody out.
Kilcoyne followed with a grand slam to left field, clearing the bases and giving NHTI an early 4-0 advantage. The home run marked his first of his collegiate career and accounted for four of the Lynx's five runs in the victory.
NHTI added another run in the second inning when Jordan and Ringman recorded back-to-back singles before Jordan came around to score on a wild pitch, extending the lead to 5-0.
On the mound, Kilcoyne kept the Golden Eagles' offense in check throughout the afternoon. The right-hander scattered four hits across seven innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out 11 batters and issuing no walks on 99 pitches.
Kilcoyne struck out the side in both the third and seventh innings, closing his complete-game performance with three consecutive strikeouts to secure the 5-1 victory and earn his first pitching win of the fall.
Kent State Tuscarawas scored its lone run in the fifth inning when Wyatt Bohanon singled and later came around to score on a double from Owen Walter.
Jordan finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Ringman added a hit, a walk and a run scored. Camden Morrill (Raymond, N.H.) also recorded a double as NHTI finished with five hits.
Kilcoyne's 11 strikeouts brought his fall total to 28, placing him among the YSCC's leaders in the category. He finishes the fall second on the team in strikeouts, behind Charbono's 29.
With Sunday's victory, the Lynx finish their fall schedule at 3-8 overall and 2-6 in Concord.
UP NEXT
NHTI is scheduled to return to competition Sunday, March 28, 2027, with a road doubleheader against Bryant & Stratton College–Albany beginning at noon.
