Stonehill Splits With #11 Southern New Hampshire, 1-0 and 6-1


Senior James DeAlto scored the lone run for Stonehill in game one (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

EASTON, Mass. (March 30, 2013) –The Stonehill College baseball split a double-header with the 11th ranked Southern New Hampshire University Penmen in a NE-10 Northeast Division matchup Saturday afternoon at Lou Gorman Field in Easton, Mass.

Stonehill 1, Southern New Hampshire 0

Duff pitches a one-hitter as Stonehill claims game one victory.

Sophomore pitcher Jim Duff (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) pitched a complete game shutout to lead the way for Stonehill. Duff allowed just four baserunners on the day, yielding one hit and two walks, while striking out eight.

Senior Jon Massad (Shrewsbury, Mass./St. John's) was charged with the loss for Southern New Hampshire. Massad pitched an eight-inning complete game, striking out eight and giving up an unearned run on five hits.

Both Duff and Massad recorded 1-2-3 innings in each of their first two. It took until the bottom of the third for the first runner to reach base, when Matt Anziano (Belchertown, Mass./Belchertown) reached on an error. Duff stayed perfect until the top of the sixth inning, when Anthony Aceto (North Providence, R.I./North Providence) reached on an error by the shortstop.

Stonehill scored the game's first run in the bottom of the sixth. After James DeAlto (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, he scored when Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) reached on an error by the third baseman.

The Penmen threatened in the eighth inning. Zach Goldstein (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) broke Duff's no-hitter when he singled. Southern New Hampshire loaded the bases later in the inning, but Duff escaped the threat when he got Aceto to strike out and Greg Pezzuto (Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y./Hastings) to fly out.  

Duff closed out the Penmen with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. He got Matt Boulter (Wrentham, Mass./Bishop Feehan) to fly out, then struck out the second batter, before getting the final batter to foul out to the third baseman.

Southern New Hampshire 6, Stonehill 1

Palmer's three RBIs help Southern New Hampshire take game two


Sophomore Jim Duff pitched a complete game one-hitter to earn the victory in game one (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Junior Riley Palmer (Goffstown, N.H./Goffstown) went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to pace the Penmen. Boulter and Junior Al Stanton (Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) also posted RBIs for Southern New Hampshre.

DeAlto collected a single and an RBI for Stonehill in game two. Chris Callahan (Southington, Conn./Holy Cross High) and Eric Schneider (Camarillo, Calif./St. Bonaventure) also earned hits for the Skyhawks.

Junior Tyler Gauthier (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) pitched seven innings and eared his third win of the season for the Penmen. Gauthier gave up one earned run on five hits and one walk, while striking out three. Alex Powers (Brewster, Mass./Nauset Regional) pitched a scoreless ninth to close the door for Southern New Hampshire.

Stonehill starter Zach Soulier (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) was charged with the loss in game two. Soulier went six innings yielding four earned runs on seven hits and two walks. Freshmen Mike Krupczak (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) and Patrick Nicholson (Middleboro, Conn./Middleboro) each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Skyhawks.

Southern New Hampshire took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning. With runners on first and third, Stanton hit a sacrifice fly to left field, putting the Penmen on the board. Palmer then singled home another run to give Southern New Hampshire a two-run advantage.

Stonehill responded in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to one. Callahan singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before DeAlto drove him in with an RBI-single.

The Penmen added runs in the fifth and seventh and held the Skyhawks scoreless after the third to close out the victory.

Stonehill (15-9, 4-1 NE-10 NE) returns to action Tuesday afternoon when it hosts UMass Lowell in a NE-10 Northeast Division matchup at Lou Gorman Field beginning at 3:00 pm. Next up for the Penmen (17-6, 3-3 NE-10 NE) is a trip to Vermont Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 pm to take on Saint Michael's.

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