Skyhawks take first game, 2-1, before Adelphi rebounds with 9-3 victory in game two

Senior Zack Soulier improved to 5-1 today after going 7.2 shutout innings, allowing seven hits to go with three walks and two strikeouts.

EASTON, Mass. (April 5, 2014) – Stonehill College won a low-scoring opener, but couldn't quiet the Adelphi University bats in game two as the teams split a doubleheader today in Northeast-10 Conference baseball action at Lou Gorman Field.

Senior Zack Soulier (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) improved to 5-1 this season with an impressive outing in today's first game, as he went 7.2 shutout innings, allowing seven hits while walking three and striking out two. Junior Armand Rugel (Middletown, R.I./Middletown) collected his sixth save of the season after working the final 1.1 innings and giving up one run on a hit two walks.

Stonehill was led offensively by senior outfielder Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Feehan), who went 3-for-9 on the day with two RBI. Sophomore Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Mass./Xaverian Brothers) also went 3-for-9 and knocked in a run, while freshman Eddie Bowler (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) was 2-for-6 with one RBI.

Adelphi got a pair of strong starts today from senior Stephen Bove (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Ford) and freshman Chris Lemorocco (Nesconset, N.Y./St. John the Baptist).      Bove took the loss in the opener despite giving up just one earned run in 6.1 innings of work, and Lemorocco picked up the game two victory after going six innings and giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits to go with six strikeouts and two walks.

The Panther offense was led today by junior outfielder Cliff Brantley (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond), who piled up five hits and two RBI in the doubleheader. Senior Richard Mejia (Jackson, N.J./Perkiomen School) powered Adelphi in its game two win with a 3-for-5 effort, including a double, a home run, and four RBI, while classmate Kevin Hutzel (Massapequa, N.Y./St. Anthony's) had a hit in each game.

Stonehill utilized Soulier's strong outing and a balanced attack on offense to take game one, as seven different Skyhawks had hits. Karalis and Bowler each had one hit and one RBI, while Brantley paced Adelphi's offense with a 4-for-5 effort to go with one RBI.

After five scoreless innings, Stonehill finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Eric Schneider (Camarillo, Calif./Saint Bonaventure) reached base to open the frame on a fielding error, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Karalis came up next and delivered a run-scoring single to left center, as Stonehill took a 1-0 lead.

One inning later, senior first baseman Anthony Pagano (Cranston, R.I./Cranston West) led off with a triple, and scored on the next play on a sacrifice fly by Bowler.

Adelphi got one run back in the ninth inning on an RBI single by Brantley, but Rugel worked out of trouble to earn the save and seal the victory for Stonehill.

Adelphi 9, Stonehill 3

Senior Billy Karalis led Stonehill at the plate today with a 3-for-9 effort and two RBI.

The Adelphi offense, which was quiet in its game one defeat, came alive to spark the Panthers to a game two win and a doubleheader split. Mejia racked up four RBI and three hits, and Brantley added a hit and one RBI to lead the Panthers.

Stonehill sophomore Mike Krupczak (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) took the loss after a tough outing in which he gave up seven runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings of work. Freshman Jeremy Roberts (Reading, Mass./Malden Catholic) contributed 4.2 innings out of the bullpen, giving up two runs on three hits, and junior Ryan Rougeot (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire) pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit.

Stonehill took a first-inning lead on an RBI single by sophomore Brian Campbell (Franklin, Mass./Mount Saint Charles), but Adelphi tied the contest in the second and then scored six more times in the third to go up 7-1.

Brantley led off the top of the third with a single, and scored two batters later on Mejia's two run double to right center. Senior Brandon Stahl (East Norwich, N.Y./St. Dominic) then drove in Mejia with another double, before eventually coming around to score on a single by classmate Chad Houghton (Plymouth, Mass./Coyle Cassidy). Brantley, who led off the inning with a hit, wrapped up the scoring in the frame when he delivered a sacrifice fly, scoring Houghton.

Stonehill got single runs back in the third and fifth, but Mejia's opposite field, two-run shot in the top of the sixth put any hopes of a Stonehill comeback out of reach.

Stonehill (15-11, 5-4 NE-10) will be right back in action tomorrow with another doubleheader against Pace University, starting at noon. Adelphi (11-11, 7-4 NE-10) will be in action tomorrow with a twinbill at Bentley University.

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