FLEMINGTON, N.J.  – Senior right-hander Michael Gutierrez (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) became the Felician University baseball program's all-time leader in pitching strikeouts, but the Golden Falcons lost both ends of their non-conference doubleheader, 15-4 and 13-7, to visiting Southern New Hampshire University on Saturday at Diamond Nation. Southern New Hampshire (6-1) is ranked No. 12 in the most recent national NCAA Division II writers' poll and No. 9 in the preseason Collegiate Baseball Newspaper version.

Graduate outfielder Jake Hall (Hopatcong, N.J./Hackettstown) and junior first baseman Edwin Tavarez (Garfield, N.J./Garfield) each had a home run among four hits on the day for the Golden Falcons (2-8). SNHU hit seven home runs during the twinbill, including three by sophomore shortstop Danniel Rivera (New Britain, Conn./New Britain).

Gutierrez (0-2) started the opening game for Felician with 262 career strikeouts, one behind John Holland's record total from 2013-17. He passed Holland during the first inning, but by that time had already fallen behind, 4-0.

The Penmen added a run in the second inning, then broke the game open with a six-run sixth off the Felician bullpen. Meanwhile SNHU graduate righty Josh Roberge (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) tossed seven shutout innings. Roberge (1-1) struck out nine batters and walked two before the Golden Falcons tallied four times in the eighth.

Rivera and Sam Henrie (Middleboro, Mass./Old Rochester Regional) each homered twice for the Penmen, who outhit Felician, 17-10. Michael Kuver (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) was 3 for 3 and Hall went 3 for 4 with a double for Felician.

A grand slam by Hall capped a five-run second inning in the nightcap for the hosts. Felician added a pair of unearned runs in the third for a 7-1 lead. But the Golden Falcons never scored again. The SNHU bullpen fashioned six innings of shutout relief, including 3 1/3 by winning pitcher George Welch (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy) (2-0).

Meanwhile, the Penmen offense immediately tied the game, striking for six runs in the top of the fourth inning. Keiran Dowd (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) had a two-run single during the rally, which was then capped by a two-run home run from Rivera. SNHU went head to stay with four more scores in the fifth, including a Dylan O'Sullivan (Manchester, N.H./Phillips Exeter) three-run blast.

In between, Welch had escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the bottom of the fourth. Felician put two men on with one out in the seventh and again came up empty, stranding 10 runners for the game. Tavarez was 3 for 5 with a double and Alex Torres (Jackson, N.J./Jackson Liberty) and Shawn Vazquez (Millville, N.J./Vineland) each stroked a double among two hits for the Golden Falcons.  

The Penmen and Golden Falcons complete a three-game weekend series on Sunday at Diamond Nation.