Southern New Hampshire (SNHU) Fall Report: Penmen Fueled by Rare Postseason Absence

For nearly a decade and a half, the road to the NCAA postseason in the East Region has gone through Manchester, but the 2025 campaign ended in unfamiliar territory for the Southern New Hampshire Penmen. Despite posting a solid 32-16 overall record and finishing 18-7 in the NE10 North, the program missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. It was a jarring conclusion for a squad accustomed to deep runs, having made four straight World Series appearances from 2021 to 2024.

Head Coach Chris Shank, now entering his fourth season at the helm with a stellar .671 winning percentage (100-49), views the disappointment not as a setback, but as a catalyst. "It stung missing out on a regional and not making it to Cary last year," Shank admitted. "Having the awakening of missing out last year lit a fire". With a roster that blends experienced returners who have played in high-stakes games with a deep class of talented newcomers, the Penmen are intent on proving that 2025 was merely a blip on the radar of a perennial national contender.

The Offense

While the lineup loses significant power with the departures of key run-producers, the cupboard is far from bare. The offense returns 41% of its production from last year and will lean on senior leadership to set the tone. Jake Pisano returns as a lineup anchor and "unofficial captain". In limited action last season, Pisano was hyper-efficient, posting a team-leading .391 average in 87 ABs with five doubles, three home runs, and 15 RBI, showing the kind of contact skills that make him a difficult out.

Joining him in the middle of the order is two-way threat Jake Risedorf, a Second Team All-NE10 selection. On the offensive side, Risedorf hit .297 in 182 ABs with nine doubles, five home runs, and 37 RBI. Behind the dish, senior Kyle Lavigne brings stability as a three-year starter who Shank notes "will not be phased". Lavigne managed the staff well while contributing offensively, hitting .283 in 106 ABs with four doubles and 24 RBI.

The lineup gets a major boost from the return of Shane McNamara and Brody Keneston, both of whom had their 2025 seasons derailed by early injuries. To supplement the core, the coaching staff hit the transfer portal hard. Marc Cisco, a grad transfer from Queens (NY), arrives as a career .377 hitter with All-American credentials. He is joined by Casey Cumiskey, a physically gifted transfer from Division I Seton Hall who boasts a 93 mph arm across the infield and 6.4 speed in the 60 with 145 collegiate plate appearances under his belt. As well, JR Bozek comes from D1 Farleigh Dickinson, who will provide depth to the infield and may find his way into the lineup.

Power should also come from River Hart, a transfer from UMass Lowell who launched 10 home runs at the Division I level last year , and Dakota Britt, a transfer from North Greenville who posted a .431 on-base percentage in 2024. Lastly, power will come from freshman outfielder Andre Arthur, a native of the Bahamas, who has an extremely high ceiling and played in the Miami Marlins organization in 2021 and 2022. The influx of veteran talent has Shank optimistic about the unit's versatility. "We should have more ways to score and will be more dynamic as an offense," he said.

The Pitching Staff

Pitching remains the backbone of the program, with the staff returning 63.2% of its innings from a year ago. The rotation features proven commodities like Parker Lendrum and Zachary Brassill. Lendrum was a reliable arm in 2025, posting a 5-2 record with a 4.32 ERA in 58.1 IP, striking out 40 batters. Brassill, who has developed a "kick change" that could become his signature pitch , finished with a 3-3 record and a 5.09 ERA across 53.0 IP.

A rising star to watch is sophomore Angel Baez, an NE10 All-Rookie selection who is expected to transition into a starting role. Baez showed flashes of dominance in his debut campaign, compiling a 3-2 record with a sparkling 3.61 ERA in 47.1 IP. At the back end of the bullpen, Jake Risedorf is poised to shut the door. In addition to his offensive contributions, he logged a 3-1 record with two saves and a 3.56 ERA in 43.0 IP, displaying the "elite makeup" required for high-leverage situations.

The staff is bolstered by two potential impact arms. Matt Wootton, a grad transfer from Eastern Connecticut State, brings over 300 innings of collegiate experience and a fastball that touches 94 mph. Freshman Zak Whitney is another exciting addition who "should slot in immediately in the rotation" with a fastball reaching 94 mph. Another addition is Shawn Taylor, a freshman who can spin his breaking ball over 3000 RPMs. Shank is confident in his group's strike-throwing ability, noting, "We feel really good in the back end of the pen with Risedorf... and we have a handful of other arms that could be significant contributors".

Key Departures

The Penmen must replace some historic production, most notably from sluggers Jackson Marshall and Nater Wachter. Marshall, an ABCA First Team All-East Region selection, was a force in the NE10, ranking fourth in the conference in both home runs (15) and RBI (56) while hitting .337. Wachter, was equally dangerous, hitting .300 with 15 home runs and 61 RBI, the latter of which ranked second in the conference. Both transferred to UConn.

On the mound, the loss of Austin Trumpour will be felt. An ABCA Second Team All-East Region honoree who also transferred to UConn, Trumpour was elite in 2025, posting a 5-3 record with a 3.07 ERA in 73.1 IP. His command was impeccable, leading the conference in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.71) and ranking second in ERA. The team also says goodbye to Cam Varney, a First Team All-NE10 arm who logged a 2.97 ERA in 36.1 innings.Other departures include Second Team All-NE10 Selection Jancarlos Colon, who got some playing time in the independent Frontier League and Jorge Burgos, a 2025 D2 Baseball Preseason All-American.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 campaign begins with a statement opportunity in Myrtle Beach, S.C., where Southern New Hampshire opens against Felician University on February 19. This matchup looms large, as Felician is coming off a massive 43-22 season where they captured the East Region Championship and made their first World Series appearance. The non-conference slate continues with games against Queens College, College of Staten Island, and St. Thomas Aquinas. Non-conference play concludes on March 7 and 8 with a big four-game set on the road at Jefferson, a team that won over 40 games last season and was the No.1 Seed in the East Region last season.

Conference play will test the Penmen early and often. A mid-March series against Southern Connecticut State (March 14-15) sets the table for a pivotal April stretch. They face Bentley University (March 21-22), a 33-win team from a year ago , before locking horns with arch-rival Franklin Pierce in mid-April (11 and 12). Franklin Pierce remains a formidable obstacle, having won the NE10 Northeast Division last year while hosting the East Super Regional. The regular season concludes with a challenging series at Pace University (May 1-2), the defending NE10 Tournament Champions who won 28 games in 2025.

With a reloaded roster and a renewed sense of urgency, Southern New Hampshire is eager to turn the page on last season. "I can't promise that we will be back to Cary in '26, but I can promise that we will be as hungry as ever," Shank declared. If the fall is any indication, the Penmen are primed to make that promise a reality.

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