Haverhill, Mass. (March 17) -- The Assumption College baseball team opened Northeast-10 Conference play with a split against Southern Conn. State University at Haverhill Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Greyhounds dropped the first game, 9-0, before taking the second game by an 8-2 final.

In the first game, the Greyhounds were one-hit, as sophomore Billy Johnson (Auburn, Mass. / Holy Name) picked up the lone hit, an infield single, in the eighth inning for Assumption.

Graduate student Keith Landers (Worcester, Mass. / Saint Peter Marian) took the loss for Assumption, 3.1 innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs while striking out three.

Sophomore Mitch Kelly (Watertown, Conn. / Watertown) pitched well in relief of Landers, allowing one hit and two unearned runs over 3.2 innings. He struck out two and walked three.

Ryan Yerina earned his fourth win of the season for the Owls, pitching a complete game one-hitter, striking out six.

In the second game, the Greyhounds knocked out SCSU starter Rocco Cundari after only three innings of work. He allowed five hits, five walks, and six runs, three of which were earned.

Assumption jumped ahead with a run in the second inning as the Greyhounds capitalized on an error and three-consecutive singles, including an RBI single by junior Bret Clark (Bristol, Conn. / Bristol Central).

After taking the lead, the Greyhounds extended the lead to six with a five-run third inning. Assumption scored four of the five runs with two outs in the frame. Senior Shane Keddy (Worcester, Mass. / Worcester Tech) got things started with a one-out inside-the-park home run to left field.

The next batter, Greg O'Donnell (Northbridge, Mass. / Northbridge), walked, one of four walks the Greyhounds would draw in the inning. After a fly out to right field, Nick Napoli(Medford, Mass. / Boston College), Johnson, and Joe Lopes (Warwick, R.I. / Bishop Hendricken) walked, scoring a run for Assumption. The next batter, Clark, reached on a single to third base. On the play the SCSU third baseman threw the ball away, clearing the bases, and giving Assumption a 6-0 advantage.

That was more than the Greyhounds would need, as sophomore Zack LaRosa (West Hartford, Conn. / Conard) pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits while striking out five to earn his first win of the season.

The Greyhounds move to 3-9 on the season and 1-1 in Northeast-10 Conference play, while SCSU moves to 10-5 on the season and 1-1 in league play.

Assumption will return to action on Wednesday, March 20th against American International College. The game is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.n. on Wednesday.

For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240.