Skyhawks shutout Yellow Jackets, 1-0, in game one and drop game two, 3-2

Bryan Galligan earned his second win of the season with a complete game three hit shutout in game one.

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 15, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked seventh overall in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) East Regional Poll, split a non-conference doubleheader with American International College (AIC) on Thursday afternoon earning a 1-0 shutout victory in game one while falling in game two, 3-2 (both seven inning contests).

Stonehill 1, AIC 0

Senior right-handed pitcher Bryan Galligan (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) hurled a complete game three-hit shutout to improve his record to 2-1 overall on the season. Galligan issued just one walk and struck out a game-high six batters. John Hanna (Dudley, Mass./Shepherd Hill Regional) was handed the loss on six innings pitched, seven hits, one run (unearned), zero walks and two punchouts.

A pitching duel throughout, Stonehill finally broke into the scoring column in the bottom of the sixth inning as senior Michael White (Lisbon, N.H./Lisbon Regional) scored from second base on a throwing error by the Yellow Jackets shortstop. White double to left centerfield with one out before classmate Steven Popp (Unionville, Conn./Farmington) put the ball in play to the left side of the infield that resulted in the Skyhawks only run of the contest.

Sophomore Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) led Stonehill's offense with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate.

AIC 3, Stonehill 2

The Yellow Jackets earned a split of the doubleheader in game two with a come-from-behind victory scoring all three of their runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Senior reliever Geoff McCowat (Sterling, Va./Dominion) picked up the win over two innings of work, two hits and one run (unearned). AIC starter Ryan Acevedo (Poway, Calif./Chaparral) was handed the no-decision on five innings pitched, four hits, one run (earned), four walks, one hit-by-pitch and six strikeouts.

For Stonehill, senior Michael Von Stein (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) suffered the loss giving up three runs (two earned) and two walks. Freshman starter Armand Rugel (Middletown, R.I./Middletown) earned a no-decision in his first-career start on six innings pitched, four hits, no runs, one walk and a game-high seven punchouts.

The Skyhawks claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Michael Zeiner Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) ripped a RBI double down the right field line plating freshman Matt Anziano (Belchertown, Mass./Belchertown) from second with two outs. Junior James DeAlto (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) was thrown out at home trying to score on a 9-3-2 relay. Anziano extended the inning with a walk and stole second base before DeAlto reached base on a free pass.

In the top of the seventh inning, Zeiner gave Stonehill a 2-0 advantage with a sacrifice fly to right field that plated freshman Dan Pidgeon (Darien, Conn./Darien), his second RBI of the contest.

AIC scratched home three runs in the bottom half inning to earn the doubleheader split.

Nicholas Devin (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) and Dave Clark (West Springfield, Mass./West Springfield) worked back-to-back walks to leadoff the frame and an error on a sacrifice bunt allowed Devin to score and make it a 2-1 deficit.

The Skyhawks went to the bullpen, replacing Von Stein, and brought in freshman pitcher Jim Duff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City). Duff intentionally walked senior Julian Concepcion (Woodstock Valley, Conn./St. Peter Marian) to load the bases in an attempt to set up a double play situation.

Freshman Mike Coyne (El Cajon, Calif./St. Augustine) followed with a fielder's choice RBI and senior Dennis Duffy (Warwick, R.I./Trinity Christian) drove in the game-winning run with a walk.

Zeiner went 1-for-2 with two RBI's while Fratus was 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Stonehill offensively.

Stonehill (10-5, 0-0 NE-10, 0-0 Northeast Division) faces the University of Bridgeport tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. in Ormand Beach, Fla. AIC (5-4, 0-0 NE-10, 0-0 Southwest Division) plays the University of New Haven tomorrow at 10 a.m. in West Palm Beach, Fla.