Skyhawks win opener 3-1, fall in second game 3-2

Senior Zach Soulier earned his second win of the season yesterday after pitching six innings and allowing just one run in Stonehill's 3-1 victory over Bridgeport.

WINTER PARK, Fla. (March 10, 2014) – The Stonehill College baseball team split a doubleheader with the University of Bridgeport yesterday in non-conference action at Alfond Stadium on the campus of Rollins College. Stonehill won the opener 3-1 before falling in the second contest, 3-2.

Sophomore Brian Campbell (Franklin, Mass./Mount Saint Charles) was the only Skyhawk to record a hit in both games, as he went 3-for-8 at the plate with a double and a run. Junior Christian Baglini (Milford, Conn./Notre Dame) and freshman Steve Lee (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) each went 1-for-3 with one RBI in the opener, while senior Anthony Pagano (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West) and sophomore Brian Hocking (Duxbury, Mass./BC High) posted 1-for-2 efforts with one RBI in the second game.

Senior Zach Soulier (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) earned his second win of the season in the opener for Stonehill, going six innings and allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight and walking one. Junior Armand Rugel (Middletown, R.I./Middletown) earned the save after pitching the seventh inning and allowing no hits. In the second contest, junior Neal Horan (Mashpee, Mass./BC High) went the first five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Junior Steve Pike (Stoughton, Mass./Catholic Memorial) pitched the sixth inning, giving up one hit.

Bridgeport was led offensively by freshmen Dylan Steigerwald (Holbrook, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) and Matt Costleigh (West Islip, N.Y./St. Anthony's). Both players went 2-for-5 in the doubleheader, while Steigerwald also recorded one RBI. Juniors Tim Bickford (Wallingford, Conn./Monmouth) and Mike Perry (East Haven, Conn./UConn Avery Point) each went 2-for-3 in Bridgeport's game two victory.

Junior Brian O'Keefe (Milford, Conn./Orange Coast College) started the first game for the Purple Knights, going six innings and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out ten. Freshman Alex Dimpter (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East) pitched an inning of relief, striking out the side. Freshman Dakota Edwards (Turlock, Calif./Turlock) posted a complete game effort in Bridgeport's 3-2 win, allowing two runs on just three hits with six strikeouts and five walks.

Stonehill utilized a balanced offensive effort in the opener, as each of its first five batters recorded a hit. The Skyhawks wasted no time in getting their offense going, as Campbell led off the game with a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch. Campbell was eventually thrown out at the plate, but Stonehill was able to score in the inning on an RBI double by Baglini.

Two innings later, Campbell again led off the frame with a hit, this time a single. After advancing to second on an error in the outfield by Bridgeport, Campbell moved to third with the help of a sacrifice bunt. Senior Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Feehan) then gave the Skyhawks a 2-0 lead with an RBI triple.

Bridgeport got a run back in the fifth inning, as freshman Casey McCone (Milford, Conn./Foran) singled and eventually came around to score on a single by Steigerwald. Soulier only allowed that one run through six innings, however, and Rugel pitched a clean seventh inning to earn his second save of the season.

As Stonehill did in the opening game, Bridgeport was able to put a run on the board in both the first and third innings. After Horan retired the first two Purple Knights in the opening frame, McCone singled and Bridgeport eventually loaded the bases. Perry's RBI single staked Edwards to a 1-0 lead after one.

Steigerwald led off the third inning with a single and then advanced to second base on a passed ball. After reaching third on a groundout by McCone, Steigerwald came around to score Bridgeport's second run of the game on a wild pitch.

After the two teams traded runs in the fourth inning, Stonehill drew to within one, at 3-2, with Hocking's RBI single in the fifth.  Stonehill was unable to put together any rallies in the final two innings, however, as Edwards held the Skyhawks to just three hits in the contest.

Stonehill (5-3, 0-0 NE-10) and Bridgeport (3-3, 0-0 ECC) will be right back at it today, with the first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. The Skyhawks and Purple Knights will then play for the fourth time in three days tomorrow at 2 p.m.

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