Box Score | Season Statistics | Recap




HOUSTON – Riding junior left-hander Sean Mellen's six scoreless innings on Sunday, the Northeastern baseball team carried a 2-0 lead into the deep part of its rubber match against Houston Baptist, despite surrendering five runs during the late innings and receiving the 5-2 defeat.
 
Mellen impressed during his 2019 debut, scattering three hits in addition to striking out four and walking two. The 2019 Preseason All-American Second Team selection (per Collegiate Baseball) ended his day by retiring nine consecutive batters, departing at the end of the sixth inning while in line for the victory.
 
Michael Geaslen broke the game's scoreless tie during the top of the fourth inning, guiding a two-RBI single through the right side that put Northeastern (1-2) in front, 2-0. Jared Dupere and Jeff Costello had opened the inning with back-to-back singles, both moving into scoring position courtesy of Kyle Peterson's sacrifice bunt.
 
David Stiehl relieved Mellen at the start of the seventh inning, posting two outs before Houston Baptist (2-1) rallied for three runs to take its first lead.
 
Anthony Jones cracked the RBI single through the right side that halved the Huskies' advantage to 2-1 while Trent Franson's ensuing base hit prompted NU to dive deeper into its bullpen. Two batters after Kyle Murphy had taken the mound, Nathan Soriano hit a two-RBI single for Houston Baptist, which exited the inning with the 3-2 edge.
 
Three successive leadoff walks issued by Sam Jacobsak allowed Houston Baptist to load the bases during the bottom of the eighth inning, resulting in two insurance runs for the home team on Josh Winkler's watch.
 
JT Newton completed his six-out save by striking out the side during Northeastern's ninth inning.
 
Scott Holzwasser was one of two NU players to double during Sunday's series finale (Costello). Holzwasser finished the weekend with the team high, six hits (.545 batting average) - three of which landed for extra bases (two doubles, triple).