Senior catcher Eric Schneider went 2-for-3 today and drove in one of four Stonehill runs in the tenth inning against Bridgeport.

Junior Neal Horan tosses eight shutout innings, while offense scores four times in the tenth

TAMPA, Fla. (March 14, 2015) – The Stonehill College baseball team capped its nine-day, 12-game spring break trip in Florida with a 4-1, ten-inning victory over the University of Bridgeport today in non-conference action at the University of Tampa Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

The Skyhawks posted an 8-3-1 mark over the course of the trip, finishing strong with three consecutive regional victories. For the third straight game, Stonehill got an impressive performance from its starting pitcher, as junior righthander Neal Horan (Mashpee, Massachusetts/BC High) tossed eight shutout frames today, striking out seven batters while walking two and allowing just four hits. Freshman Michael Young (Mashpee, Massachusetts/Pope John Paul II) earned his first career victory with 1.2 scoreless innings of relief, while sophomore Aubrey Solomon (Groton, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) struck out the only batter he faced to pick up his third save of the season.

Senior catcher Eric Schneider (Camarillo, California/St. Bonaventure) led Stonehill at the plate, as he went 2-for-3, drew two walks and drove in a run in the tenth inning. Junior Brian Campbell (Franklin, Massachusetts/Mount Saint Charles), sophomore Steve Lee (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree), and freshman Joe Klingensmith (Topsfield, Massachusetts/Masconomet) also recorded RBIs in Stonehill's four-run tenth, while senior Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Plymouth North) and junior Brian Hocking (Duxbury, Massachusetts/BC High) added one triple each.          

Bridgeport sophomore starter Dakota Edwards (Turlock, California/Turlock) nearly matched Horan's effort, as he logged seven shutout innings, striking out seven while walking three and giving up four hits. Sophomore Dylan Steigerwald (Holbrook, New York/St. John the Baptist) took the loss for the Purple Knights after giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2.2 frames of work.

Senior infielder John Ascenzia (West Haven, Connecticut/West Haven) was responsible for two of Bridgeport's four hits, while freshman Kevin Fich (Bronx, New York/University of San Francisco) and junior Kyle Platner (Bernardston, Massachusetts/Holyoke CC) added one hit each. Sophomore outfielder Casey Ouellette (New Canaan, Connecticut/New Canaan) walked and drove in the Purple Knights' lone run of the contest.

Stonehill went down in order in the first inning, before squandering a scoring opportunity in the second when Fratus led off with a triple but was stranded when the next three batters were retired.

The Purple Knights also threatened in their half of the second, but were unable to push a run across, leaving two runners in scoring position.

Horan

Stonehill continued to miss its chances, stranding runners on second and third in the third inning before leaving the bases loaded in the fourth. The Skyhawks went down in order in the fifth and sixth, left two more on base in the seventh, before going down in order again in the eighth. After neither team was able to score in the ninth, the game went to extra innings tied 0-0.

Stonehill finally broke through in the tenth, scoring four times on four hits and one error. Junior Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) was the beneficiary of the miscue, reaching base to lead off the inning before advancing to second on a sacrifice. Campbell then drove Hoyt in with a double to break the scoreless tie, and three batters later Lee plated Fratus to give the Skyhawks a 2-0 lead. Schneider and Klingensmith followed with RBI singles to double Stonehill's advantage, before sophomore Ben Monte (New Haven, Connecticut/Guilford) struck out to end the inning.

Bridgeport was able to get one run back in its half of the tenth with the help a walk and two errors, but Ascenzia struck out to end the contest, stranding two runners on base.

Stonehill (12-4-1, 0-0 NE-10) will be off for a week, before opening conference play next Saturday with a doubleheader at the College of Saint Rose. Bridgeport (3-7, 0-0 ECC) is scheduled to remain in Florida for four more games, beginning with a 1 p.m. contest Southern Connecticut State University tomorrow.

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