The SCSU baseball team continued its march toward a possible NCAA Division II East Regional title and a berth in the World Series with a 9-2 win over host Franklin Pierce Friday night.
The Owls improve to a program-best 40-6-1.
No. 8 Southern jumped out early in the second with a two-RBI single by Matt Pessy (Greenwich, Conn.). Southern added five runs in the fifth and sixth innings with a RBI single from Ryan Geffert (Plymouth, Pa.) and a sacrifice groundout by A.J. Rouleau (Westborough, Mass.) in the fifth and three bases loaded walks in the sixth. The Owls put the game out of reach in the eighth with a two-RBI single by Michael Cleary (West Boylston, Mass.).

Steve Landell (Higganum, Conn.) started for the Owls going seven innings giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out four batters. A.J. Turnier (Waterford, Conn.) relieved Landell in the eighth and went the final two innings and allowed no hits. The offenses for the Owls were powered by Cleary who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI. Kyle Rosadino (Berwyn, Pa.), T.K. Kiernan (Wallingford, Conn.) and Pessy also collected two hits on the day.