Strong Pitching Lifts Stonehill To Doubleheader Sweep Over Mercy

Skyhawk pitchers allow just one run in 15 innings

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – The Stonehill College baseball team used two impressive pitching performances to win both ends of a doubleheader over Mercy College today in non-conference action in Fort Pierce, Florida. Stonehill took the opener, 6-0, before winning the second contest in extra innings, 2-1.

Stonehill 6, Mercy 0 

Senior Zach Soulier earned his third win of the season in dominant fashion, as he went the distance and allowed just five hits and no runs to go with four strikeouts.

Stonehill won the first of two seven inning contests today on the strength of solid offense and a complete-game shutout by senior Zach Soulier (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law). Soulier earned his third win of the season after lasting all seven innings and allowing just five hits while striking out four and walking two.

Sophomore second baseman Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) led Stonehill's offensive attack with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with two RBI and two runs. Senior outfielder Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Feehan) went 1-for-3 with one RBI, as did junior third baseman Christian Baglini (Milford, Conn./Notre Dame). Freshman Eddie Bowler (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) recorded a hit, a walk, and one RBI, while sophomore Brian Campbell (Franklin, Mass./Mount Saint Charles) added one hit and one run.

Mercy managed only five hits in the contest, three of which came off the bat of sophomore infielder Steve Longo (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point). Senior first baseman Jesus Jaile (Hartsdale, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and freshman infielder Michael Grudzinski (Islip, N.Y./Islip) also had a hit apiece for the Mavericks.

Senior Joseph O'Neill (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) took the loss after giving up six runs on six hits in just three innings of work. O'Neill registered two strikeouts and handed out three walks.

Stonehill did the majority of its damage in the first inning, as the Skyhawks scored four times to give Soulier all the support he would need. Campbell led off the game with a triple, and Hoyt followed with an RBI double. Hoyt then stole third before Karalis drove him home with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Stonehill successfully pulled off a double steal with Karalis stealing home and senior first baseman Anthony Pagano (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West) taking second. Bowler capped off the big inning with an RBI single, scoring Pagano, as Stonehill led 4-0 after one.

The Skyhawks added two more runs in the second inning on an RBI double by Hoyt and an RBI single by Baglini, and Soulier cruised through the rest of the contest as Stonehill won the opener, 6-0.

Stonehill 2, Mercy 1

Senior Billy Karalis recorded two RBI today, including the game-winner in the eighth inning of Stonehill's 2-1 win over Mercy.

Junior pitcher Neal Horan (Mashpee, Mass./BC High) followed Soulier's impressive start with an even more dominant outing. Horan went the distance, allowing just one run on two hits to go with seven strikeouts and two walks.

Pagano keyed Stonehill's offense, as he went 2-for-3, while Hoyt added another hit, giving him four in the doubleheader. Bowler, junior Eric Schneider (Camarillo, Calif./St. Bonaventure), and sophomore outfielder Chris Callahan (Southington, Conn./Holy Cross) each went 1-for-3, as Stonehill's 6-9 batters were a combined 5-for-12 in the game.

Junior pitcher Bryan Greig (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) did his best to keep the Mavericks in the game, as he matched Horan's complete game by going the distance himself. Greig took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits while racking up nine strikeouts.

After a scoreless first inning, Stonehill put a run on the board in the second on Schneider's RBI single. Greig was able to limit the damage, however, as he induced an inning ending double play with the bases loaded.

Mercy answered in the fourth inning when freshman Reed Farrier (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) walked, advanced to second on a passed ball, and came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore outfielder Scott Hagan (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck).

With both pitchers in control, neither team scored in innings five through seven, sending the contest to extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Callahan led off with a single and then advanced to second on a groundout. After advancing to third on a single by Hoyt, Callahan came around to score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice bunt by Karalis. Horan retired the Mavericks in order in the bottom half of the inning to give the Skyhawks their third straight victory.

Stonehill (10-5, 0-0 NE-10) will return home following its 7-3 trip in Florida for its 2014 home and Northeast-10 opener on Wednesday against Assumption College. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at Lou Gorman Field. Mercy (3-6, 0-0 ECC) is set to play two games against NE-10 foe Southern Connecticut State University tomorrow, with the first game slated for 3 p.m.

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