NORWICH, CT (May 17, 2012) - Sacred Heart junior right hander Troy Scribner (Washington Depot, CT) tossed a complete game with nine strike outs as the Pioneers advanced in the Northeast Conference Tournament with a 3-2 win over Central Connecticut State Thursday afternoon at Dodd Stadium. 

Junior John Murphy provided a pair of sacrifice flies and and sophomore Dan Perez (Seymour, CT) delivered a two-out run scoring double to lead the offense as SHU advances to face top-seeded Monmouth with a spot in the NEC Championship game going to the winner. 

Scribner worked out of trouble in the first inning as Central had first and third and one out.  Centerfielder Jake Matuszak reached on an error by SHU firstbaseman Dave Boisture and advanced to third on a JP Sportman single to left.  The sophomore ended the threat by striking out clean-up hitter Tyler McIntyre and Dylan DelaCruz.

Sacred Heart put runners on first and third with no outs in the third and produced the game's first run as Murphy lofted a fly ball to centerfield, plating Keaton Flint on the catch.  Central's Harry Glynne limited the damage to just a run, getting Perez looking and ending the inning on a Hunter Phillips (Monroe, CT) ground out.

CCSU opened the fourth with a pair of singles by McIntyre and DelaCruz setting up first and third with no outs.  Shortstop Anthony Turgeon tied the game at 1-1 thanks to a ground ball to short. 

The Pioneers threatened again in the fourth putting runners on first and third with no out but saw Glynne wiggle out of the jam.  The senior stabbed a bullet line-drive back at him off the bat of Rocco Gondek and was able to double off Derick Horn at first.  He then forced Kenny Byram to pop out to first to end the inning and the threat. 

SHU had a shot at another run in the fifth but Boisture was cut down at home to end the inning.  Perez singled to right with two outs as Boisture tried to score from second.  Sportman came up throwing but took catcher Danny Hickey up the line where he collided with Boisture.  The senior catcher recovered and tagged Boisture before he could touch the plate. 

Sacred Heart returned the favor in the next half inning as Sportman led off with a double but was gunned down on a bang-bang play at home by Conor McEvoy in left.  The Pioneers chipped in with two more runs in the seventh.  Murphy scored Byram on a sac fly to left and Perez blasted a double to deep left to plate Boisture.

Scribner worked a perfect seventh and eighth and retired McInyre to start the ninth.  Central's DelaCruz pulled his team to within a run with a long homer to left.  The junior righthander settled right back in and delivered the win striking out Turgeon and Bobby Migliazza to end it.  Scribner's complete game saw him scatter seven hits, fanning nine and walking none.  He improved to 7-5 on the year posting his sixth complete game.

Boisture finished two-for-four with a pair of stolen bases and runs scored in the win.  Perez went two-for-three with the only extra base hit for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers and Monmoth Hawks will take the field following Central and Fairleigh Dickinson in an elimination game at 12 noon.  First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 at Dodd Field.

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