Skyhawks Drop Season Finale to Merrimack, 9-1


Catcher Matt Anziano went 1-for-3 with a run for the Skyhawks in the loss (PHOTO BY Bert Lane)

Crinella's three hits, two RBI, and three runs lead Merrimack to victory

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (May 5, 2013) – The Stonehill College baseball team fell 9-1 to the Merrimack College Warriors in the final game of the season Sunday afternoon in a Northeast-10 Conference showdown at the Warrior Diamond on the campus of Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass.

Freshman Frank Crinella (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two walks, two runs batted in, and three runs scored to pace the Warriors. Senior Casey Cotter (North Hampton, N.H./Winnacunnet/Dean Community College) also had three hits and scored three runs in the victory.

Junior Anthony Pagano (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West/Elms College) piloted Stonehill's offense with two hits and one RBI. Freshman Brian Campbell (Franklin, Mass./Mount Saint Charles) also posted two singles and catcher Matt Anziano (Belchertown, Mass./Belchertown) recorded a hit and a run for Stonehill in the loss.

Right-hander Joe Carnevale (East Providence, R.I./East Providence) pitched seven innings to pick up the victory for Merrimack. Carnevale held Stonehill to an unearned run on five hits, while striking out eight in the win.

Sophomore Neal Horan (Mashpee, Mass./BC High) was saddled with the loss for the Skyhawks. Horan yielded six runs (two earned) on seven hits and four walks, while striking out seven in the loss. Freshman John Hauck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Penn-Trafford) pitched 1.2 innings of relief, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits.

After four scoreless innings, Merrimack opened a 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the fifth. With runners on first and second and one out, Crinella roped a two-run double to left field to put the Warriors ahead by two. Two batters later Joe Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass./Hopedale) hit a RBI-single through the right side to score Crinella and give the Warriors a 3-0 lead.

The Skyhawks responded with one run in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 3-1. With runners on first and third and two outs, Pagano laced a single through the right side to bring home a run for Stonehill.

After scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Warriors extended their lead to 9-1 in the bottom of the eighth. After a Cotter single and a Crinella double, senior Mark O'Flynn (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) ripped a two-run single up the middle to give Merrimack a seven run advantage.

That was plenty for the Warriors as Mantoni tossed a scoreless and hitless ninth inning after senior Beau Batchelor (Peabody, Mass./Austin Prep) had pitched a scoreless eighth.

With the loss, the Skyhawks close out the season with a 23-22 overall record and a 9-12 mark in Northeast-10 divisional play. Merrimack advances to the NE-10 playoffs after finishing the year with a 26-17 overall record and a 12-9 mark in divisional play.

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