Hurley went 2-for-4 with one RBI
Sabo drove in two RBI off his third-career triple |
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 22, 2018) – The Stonehill College baseball team opened the season with a 3-2 victory over Mercy College on Ebbets Field in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge Thursday night. This was the first victory over Mercy since 2015, when Stonehill defeated the Mavericks 4-3.
Stonehill (1-0) saw senior pitcher Michael Young (Mashpee, Massachusetts/Pope John Paul II) throw six innings with 10 strikeouts for his first win of the season and 10th career victory. Classmate Alex Hurley (Rumford, Rhode Island/Worcester Academy) went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and a RBI, while Harrison Sabo (Wilton, Connecticut/Wilton) went 1-for-4 with a triple and 2 RBI.
Mercy College (3-2) saw Josue Perez go 1-for-3 with the lone RBI, while Miguel Ortiz Sanchez also tallied one hit in the Mavericks' two-hit game.
With a leadoff walk from John Orzechowski (Monroe, Connecticut/Masuk), the Skyhawks were able to get him around the bases in the first inning with a long fly ball to center field from Sabo, who tripled, and brought in Tyler Carey (Raynham, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham Regional). Following a two-run triple, Hurley drove a hard grounder to short to score Sabo from third for a 3-0 lead. William Kelleher (Mansfield, Massachusetts/Mansfield) launched a double to left field, but Hurley was tied up at third and the Mavericks were able to get out of the inning with a fielder's choice and a strikeout swinging.
Young held Mercy to one hit in the bottom of the first inning, but the Skyhawks held their 3-0 lead until the Maverick's bats came alive in the bottom of the second. Mercy drew three walks in the back half of the inning, as the team was only able to drive in Adonis Garcia off Perez's single to left field. Stonehill got out of the inning with a dropped third strike, as Mercy cut the deficit to two, 3-1.
Neither team was able to score for four innings, as Mercy held the Skyhawks in the top of the seventh and ran with the inning scoring from back-to-back errors, 3-2. Stonehill stopped the Mavericks after Thomas Quinn (Wilbraham, Massachusetts/Wilbraham Monson) threw out his third runner of the game and Ralph Pasols grounded out.
Stonehill was the only team to tally a hit in the remaining innings, as the Skyhawks combined for seven hits and held Mercy to two.
Stonehill battles Molloy College at 2:00 p.m. and LIU Post at 5:00 p.m. in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina tomorrow, Friday February 23 in the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge.
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