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DOMINICAN ELIMINATED FROM NCAA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT WITH LOSS TO SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT

May 22, 2006

RINDGE, NH - Fourth-seeded Southern Connecticut State University used a 14-hit attack to defeat Dominican College, 9-5, in game ten of the 2006 NCAA Division II Northeast Regional at Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas Field. The game was suspended yesterday in the bottom of the ninth inning due to rain, but the Owls recorded the final two outs this morning to earn a bid at the Northeast Regional Championship.

Southern Connecticut (36-18) and will face top-seeded host, Franklin Pierce (43-11) today at 12 p.m. in the championship game for a berth in the 2006 Division II College World Series held in Montgomery, Alabama. Dominican College concludes its season with an overall record of 42-18.

Southern Connecticut junior Nick Czekaj (Branford, Conn./Branford) finished 3-for-5 with a home run, one run scored, and two RBI. Freshman Karl Derbacher (Northford, Conn./North Branford) was also solid with a 3-for-5 performance, including two doubles two runs scored and one RBI. Junior Steve Gatewood (Franklin, Mass./Franklin) chipped in with two hits, including his first home run of the season along with three RBI.

Southern Connecticut starter, Justin Cox (Newburgh, N.Y./Newburgh Free) tossed seven innings to improve to 7-0 this season. Cox allowed five earned runs on eight hits, striking out four and walking three. Senior Matt Hennessy (Wallingford, Conn./Lyman Hall) took the hill this morning, retiring the final two outs of the game for the Owls.

Senior Chad Duesler (Northville, N.Y./Northville Central) led the Dominican offense, hitting 2-for-4 with a double, home run, one run scored and one RBI. Lead-off hitter, senior Mike Zani (Goshen, N.Y./Goshen) posted a 3-for-5 day at the plate, with three singles and two runs scored, while junior Peter Gilardo (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall) pitched in with his first home run of the season.

Both teams came out firing, each scoring a run throughout the first inning. Southern Connecticut took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the fourth inning, but Dominican responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame as Gilardo belted a two-run home run to center-field.

In the top of the sixth inning, Southern Connecticut regained the lead, posting a three run rally that was capped by Gatewood's two-run home run to left field. Dominican countered with single scores in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to knot the score at 5-5.

Southern Connecticut notched a single run in the top of the eighth inning, taking a 6-5 advantage. Derbacher led-off the inning with a double to left center-field and came around to score as Gatewood lined a single to right center-field. The Owls tacked on three more runs in the top of the ninth inning as Czekaj and Derbacher tallied RBI base hits and senior Joe Pagan (Bridgeport, Conn./Central) connected for an RBI double to right center field.