Junior Ben Monte recorded a hit and an RBI in today's setback at Assumption.

Skyhawks surrender five runs in the bottom of the ninth to drop key Northeast Division game

WORCESTER, Mass. (May 3, 2016) – The Stonehill College baseball team allowed five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Assumption College Greyhounds rallied from a 5-1 deficit to claim the Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Division contest at Rocheleau Field this evening.

Sophomore righty Pat Shore (Norwood, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) got the start for Stonehill and lowered his ERA to 3.13 on the year after pitching five innings and allowing just one unearned run while striking out four batters.

Senior Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) was the lone Stonehill batter to record a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with a run and two stolen bases. Sophomore Alex Hurley (Rumford, Rhode Island/Worcester Academy) homered for the second consecutive game and classmate Isiah Nunez (Brooklyn, New York/Berkshire school) hit a triple, drew a walk and scored two runs. Senior Brian Campbell (Franklin, Massachusetts/Mount Saint Charles) and junior Ben Monte (New Haven, Connecticut/Guilford) each recorded a hit and an RBI.

Sophomore Mike Curtis (Wilmington, Massachusetts/Wilmington) started on the mound for Assumption and went 6.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks to go with eight strikeouts.

Freshman Trevor McQuade (Westwood, Massachusetts/Xaverian) led the way for Assumption at the plate, going 3-for-5 with an RBI, while senior Colin Clancy (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) registered a pair of hits, scored two runs and drove in a run. Junior Jake Byrne (Grafton, Massachusetts/Saint John's) reached base four times, finishing 2-for-3 with two walks.

Stonehill struck first in the top of the third inning as Nunez extended his hitting streak to five games, tripling to left center field and coming around to score on a passed ball. The Skyhawk's threatened to add more runs to their lead as Hoyt singled through the right side of the infield and stole second base. Monte then drew a one out walk and both runners moved up a base on a passed ball to put two runners in scoring position. That's as far as they would get, as Curtis was able to work out of the jam and limit the damage.

Assumption tied the game an inning later when Clancy singled to right field and McQuade reached on an error, allowing Clancy to score all the way from first base.

Senior Chris Hoyt finished 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run to lead the Skyhawks.

Stonehill regained the lead in the top of the seventh as Nunez was once again the catalyst, drawing a one out walk to get on base. Hoyt then reached base on a fielding error by the third baseman and Monte singled through the left side of the infield to record his 22 RBI of the season. After junior lefty Patrick Hurley (Roslindale, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) pitched a scoreless seventh inning, Hurley delivered a two-run homerun in the eighth, scoring freshman Harrison Sabo (Wilton, Connecticut/Wilton) to give the Skyhawk's a three run cushion.

Sophomore Joe Klingensmith (Topsfield, Massachusetts/Masconomet) came on in relief in the bottom of the eighth and held Assumption scoreless to maintain Stonehill's three run lead heading to the ninth inning. Once in the ninth, Hoyt led off the inning with a walk and stole second base, his second of the game. He then advanced to third on a wild pitch and Campbell hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring him home, upping the Skyhawk lead to four runs.

Assumption came roaring back in the bottom of the ninth, as the first seven batters of the inning reached base safely. Stonehill didn't record an out until four runs had crossed the plate and the game was tied at five runs apiece. With the bases loaded and still no outs, junior Aubrey Solomon (Groton, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) struck out the next two batters to try and get out of the inning and force extras. Junior Mike Coggeshall (Shrewsbury, Massachusetts/Shrewsbury) played the hero for the host, hitting a two out single to right field to complete the Greyhound comeback and gain ground on the Skyhawk's who sit in the fourth spot in the Northeast Division standings, just one spot ahead of Assumption.

Stonehill (24-17, 12-10 NE-10) will return home for the final three games of the regular season, as the Skyhawk's host Merrimack College for a huge three game homestand starting on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Assumption (18-23, 13-14 NE-10) hits the road to close out its regular season, playing single contest against Bentley University on Thursday and Friday.

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