MIAMI SHORES, Fla.—Coaches dig the long ball too.
The Barry Buccaneers knocked off the 8th-ranked Southern Connecticut State Owls 6-4 on Wednesday night at Feinbloom Field on the strength of a pair of homers in the seventh and eighth innings.
The Bucs (12-10) jumped out to a 2-1 lead after three innings. In the second, Luis Arrizurieta singled and came around on a double by Sam Halpern. After the Owls (14-5) scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third, the Bucs answered on an RBI single by Sheehan Planas-Arteaga in the bottom of the frame.
The game stayed 2-1 until the top of the seventh. Bucs reliever Rene Estrada walked Sam Greenberg, then gave up a single to T.K. Keirnan and was pulled. Tyler Petsch (2-0) came in and allowed an RBI double to Brandon Docimo and threw a wild pitch to allow Keirnan to score. Petsch worked out of further trouble when Docimo was picked off on a failed squeeze play.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mike Slabach drilled an opposite-field homer down the left field line to knot the game at 3-3. It was the third straight game with a homer for Slabach.
Tied up 3-3 in the eighth, Halpern smashed a one-out double into the gap in right center and Andy Ruiz drew a walk one out later to put runners on the corners against SCSU ace Cole Bryant (2-1). James Young came in to hit for Julio Ramos and lined a shot over the left-field wall for a three-run homer.
T.J. Mullins worked the ninth and allowed a run on a wild pitch, but picked up his third save.
Petsch got the win for Barry, allowing a hit and a walk in two innings and striking out four. Bryant, who came in with an 0.90 ERA, took the loss for the Owls. He gave up three run on three hits and two walks in two-third of an inning.
The Bucs host the Florida Southern Moccasins the weekend in a crucial Sunshine State Conference series. First pitch on Friday is at 6:00 pm with live-stats and an audio broadcast available through the Barry University athletics website, GOBARRYBUCS.COM.
Barry 6, So. Connecticut St. 4 (03/21/12 at Miami Shores, FL)
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So. Connecticut St.. 001 000 201 - 4 6 1 (14-5)
Barry............... 011 000 13X - 6 10 2 (12-10)
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Pitchers: So. Connecticut St. - Rocco Cundari; Cole Bryant(8); Pat Egan(8) and T.J. Shea.
Barry - Corey Witkowski; Calvin Rayburn(5); Rene Estrada(7); Tyler Petsch(7); T.J. Mullins(9) and Luis Arrizurieta.
Win-Tyler Petsch(2-0) Save-T.J. Mullins(3) Loss-Cole Bryant(2-1) T-3:19 A-114|
HR BU - Michael Slabach (3); James Young (2).
Weather: drafty
Estrada faced 2 batters in the 7th.