MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (Sunday, May 18, 2025) -- Graduate student Tyler Petrosino launched a third-inning grand slam that doubled the #7/#10 Salve Regina University baseball advantage (from 4-0 to 8-0) and the Seahawks added four more runs in the frame on their way to defeating The College of New Jersey, 15-1, in the NCAA Division III Harrisburg Regional championship game.
 
The Seahawks (35-7) sweep a regional (Keene St., Penn St. Harrisburg, TCNJ) and advance to the Super Regional for the second straight year. Salve Regina, which extended its program-record win streak to 20 games, will match up with #8/#9 Kean University next weekend after the Cougars swept their regional (Husson, Middlebury, Cortland) this past weekend in Union, New Jersey.

Five Seahawks had multi-hit games, including Christian Homa who had a pair of opposite-field home runs, to support starting pitcher Joe DeRienzo (W, 5-1) who went six innings and struck out seven while allowing just five hits and one run. After scoring twice in the first and once in the second, Salve Regina broke the game open with a nine-run third inning. Evan O'Rourke singled in Homa with the game's first run and came home on Wil McCarthy's double. Shea Donovan (three hits on the day) drove in Petrosino with a single to center field in the second.

DeRienzo did not allow a hit through the first three innings. Homa led off the third with a homer to left field. O'Rourke walked and Shane Williams singled. After an out on interference, Hunter Yaworski went to left field with a single to load the bases. TCNJ starting pitcher Gianni Marano remained as designated hitter but left the mound for reliever Joe Ferreri. Petrosino greeted the new Lions' hurler with an opposite-field grand slam to put the Seahawks up 8-0.

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HIGHLIGHTS ON X

#ICYMI @SalveBaseball swept through its regional to advance to its second-ever @NCAADIII super regional | Tyler Petrosino's grand slam provided four of the 15 runs while Andrew Wertz got the final three outs to start the Seahawk celebration. #whyd3 pic.twitter.com/B5oOWnZqT6

— Salve Regina Sports (@SalveAthletics) May 19, 2025

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Donovan followed the four-run, four-bagger with a single up the middle and Grady Schopps singled through the right side. Brandon Grover plated Donovan with a double to right field. Homa, O'Rourke, Williams each had additional RBI in the inning, with the latter coming on a double down the right field line.

The Lions (28-17-1) escaped a shutout with a single run in the fourth. Jack O'Donnell led off with a single to left field, the first hit off DeRienzo. Marano reached on a fielder's choice grounder and Ryan Goodall had an infield single. DeRienzo hit Andrew Fernandez to load the bases with one out. Zach Hochheise lifted a ball to Grover in center for the sacrifice fly RBI before DeRienzo got a strikeout to end the frame.

Homa led off the seventh with a homer to left field. Donovan's third hit brought in Petrosino from second base in the eighth and the Seahawk catcher scored the final run on an RBI groundout by Grover.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 15, The College of New Jersey 1 
Records: Salve Regina (35-7), The College of New Jersey (28-17-1)
History: Salve Regina met TCNJ for the first time three years ago in Auburndale, Florida, during the RussMatt Invitational and the Lions won a pitchers' duel, 2-1 in 10 innings. Brayden Clark (3), Patrick Maybach (4), Zach Lopez (1), and Graham Jeffries (5) combined for 13 strikeouts.

SUMMARY

• B1 - Evan O'Rourke singled to right center, RBI; Christian Homa scored, unearned. Wil McCarthy doubled to right field, RBI; E. O'Rourke scored, unearned. | SEAHAWKS 2, LIONS 0
• B2 - Shea Donovan singled to center field, RBI; Tyler Petrosino scored, unearned. | SEAHAWKS 3, LIONS 0
• B3 - Christian Homa homered to left field, RBI. Tyler Petrosino homered to left field, 4 RBI; Hunter Yaworski scored; Shane Williams scored; Evan O'Rourke scored. Brandon Grover doubled to right field, RBI; Grady Schopps advanced to third; Shea Donovan scored. C. Homa reached first on an error by 3b, RBI; B. Grover advanced to third; G. Schopps scored, unearned. E. O'Rourke reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; C. Homa out at second 2b unassisted; B. Grover scored, unearned. S. Williams doubled down the rf line, RBI; E. O'Rourke scored, unearned. | SEAHAWKS 12, LIONS 0
• T4 - Zach Hochheise flied out to cf, sacrifice fly, RBI; Ryan Goodall advanced to third; Gianni Marano scored. | SEAHAWKS 12, LIONS 1
• B7 - Christian Homa homered to left field, RBI. | SEAHAWKS 13, LIONS 1
• B8 - Shea Donovan singled to right field, RBI; Tyler Petrosino scored. Brandon Grover grounded out to ss, RBI; Grady Schopps advanced to third; Shea Donovan scored, unearned. | SEAHAWKS 15, LIONS 1

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POST GAME INTERVIEW - Tyler Petrosino, Andrew McKeon, Joe DeRienzo

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NOTEWORTHY

• The Seahawks win their 20th consecutive game to extend their program record. The 2023 squad had won 17 straight and also recorded a 25-game unbeaten string (seven straight wins preceded a tie, and then 17 more wins in a row).
• Opposites attract - 11 of the 15 Seahawk hits were to the opposite field (right or right center for right-handed batters, left or left center for left-handed batters) including all three home runs.
• Multi-hit games for the Seahawks -- Shea Donovan (3), Christian Homa (2), Shane Williams (2), Tyler Petrosino (2).
• Joe DeRienzo (W, 5-1) threw five-hit ball over six innings with seven strikeouts. Jason Arrigo pitched two scoreless frames. Andrew Wertz finished with a 1-2-3 ninth on a strikeout, groundout, and fly out.

ON DECK
Salve Regina plays in its second-ever Super Regional (best-of-three series) against Kean (pronounced "cane") University.