New Haven, Conn. (April 1) -- The Assumption College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to No. 8 Nationally Ranked Southern Connecticut State University on Sunday afternoon.

The Greyhounds dropped the first game of the doubleheader, 7-4, despite a three-hit day by leadoff hitter Ysander Figueroa (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Tech). The centerfielder went 3-for-5 with two runs scored on the day. Third baseman Travis Smith (Coventry, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) had two hits and two RBI for the Hounds in the loss.

Assumption fell into a hole early, as SCSU scored three runs on six hits in the bottom of the first inning, and another run in the bottom of the second, to take a 4-0 lead after two innings. Greyhound starter Ben Hastings (Norton, Mass./Norton) allowed six consecutive hits in the first inning, while only allowing nine total hits in his start. Hastings pitched three innings, allowing four runs while striking out two.

Senior Frank Flynn (Worcester, Mass./St. Peter-Marian) relieved Hastings, and pitched two innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out one.

Trailing 5-0 in the top of the fifth, Assumption got on the board with an RBI single by junior shortstop Shane Keddy (Worcester, Mass./Worcester Tech). After a Figueroa single, Smith tripled for his first RBI of the game.

SCSU extended the lead back to five in the bottom of the frame, but Assumption would cut into the lead again after a Figueroa single, senior catcher Tim Quinn (Paxton, Mass./Saint John's) doubled down the left field line, scoring another run. A single by Smith drove in Quinn to cut the Owl lead to three.

Freshmen Santi Palmer (San Juan, P.R./Colegio San Ignacio) and Zack LaRosa (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) combined to pitch the final three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits between them, but Assumption could draw any closer as the Greyhounds fell 7-4.

Assumption dropped the second game, 6-0, despite holding SCSU to seven hits in the game. The Owls scored five runs, four earned, on three hits in the first inning.

SCSU starter Chris Zbin limited Assumption to five hits and no runs over eight innings of work. The Owls added another run in the sixth inning to take a 6-0 lead.

Assumption falls to 6-11 overall, while SCSU improves to 19-7 on the year.

The Greyhounds return to play on Tues., April 3, to take on American International College. The game will begin at 3:30 p.m. at AIC.