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| Javier Guzman had two hits, including an RBI double in the Skyhawks 6-3 win |
Skyhawks Halt Losing Streak, Beat River Hawks 6-3
Easton, Mass. - Stonehill got solid pitching and timely hitting as they ended their five game losing streak and improved to 8-11 on the season and 1-4 in the Northeast-10 with a 6-3 win over UMass-Lowell on Thursday afternoon at Lou Gorman Field.
Leadoff man and junior Mitch Davis (Bow, N.H.) went 3-5 for the Skyhawks with two runs scored, while seniors Javier Guzman (San Juan, P.R.) and Nate Weber (Hanson, Mass.) each had two hits and an RBI.
Stonehill started off strong for the second consecutive home game, scoring two in the bottom of the first as Ryan Healey (Lynn, Mass.) hit his third homer of the season, this one with a runner on and two out.
Neither team scored again until the top of the third when pitcher Shan Penzone (Hudson, Mass.) got into a little trouble, loading the bases on two singles and a walk with no one out. Penzone got the next batter to hit into a 6-3 fielders choice which scored a run, but a two out triple by Luke Wallace scored two more and gave the River Hawks a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the inning the Skyhawks returned the favor as Davis singled to lead off the inning and eventually came around to score on a two out single from Weber to knot the game at three.
After Penzone led off the fifth with a walk he was relieved by senior southpaw Justin Perry (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Perry got the next batter to ground into a double play and Jared Nortargiacomo grounded to Guzman to end any threat.
Stonehill also added an insurance run by Davis in the bottom of the sixth to push their lead to 6-3. Perry, meanwhile, held off UMass-Lowell rallies in the seventh and eighth while allowing just two hits over his final two innings of work.
Sophomore Dan Corrigan (Portsmouth, R.I.) entered in the ninth and sent all three batters down in order, earning his first save of the season and halting the River Hawks' eight game win streak.
Perry got the win for the Skyhawks as he improved to 1-1 on the season. Stonehill returns to action on Saturday when they travel to play a doubleheader against New Haven with games set for 12:00 and 3:00.