Young holds off Mavericks for 8.0 innings for first victory of the season
Sabo knocked in two runs as he went 2-for-4 in the season opener |
MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (February 21, 2019) – The Stonehill College baseball team kicked off the 2019 season with a 5-1 victory over Mercy College in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina at the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge.
For the Skyhawks (1-0), junior John Orzechowski went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one RBI, one double, and one stolen base, while senior Harrison Sabo went 2-for-4 in the first game of the season with a double, one RBI, one run scored, and a walk. Seniors Patrick Downey and Matthew Rocco registered a RBI each. Senior pitcher Michael Young threw a shutout 8.0 innings, striking out seven and earning his first win of the season and 11th of his career.
Stonehill jumped on board early in the top of the first with Orzechowski singling to right field with one out. Sabo followed with a single of his own to center field, driving in the junior for a 1-0 lead. William Kelleher sent the ball to center field as well advancing Sabo to second, but the Mavericks held the Skyhawks, leaving two on base. Mercy saw its first runner of the game in the bottom of the frame as John Mooradian walked with one out, but Young retired the inning with a fly out and Mooradian caught in a run down.
The Skyhawks extended its lead to three, 3-0, as Jeremiah Vargas led off with a single and Matt Donlan saw his first-collegiate hit to get runners on first and third. Rocco sent a hard grounder to second to easily score Vargas from third and advance Donlan to third, 2-0. Orzechowski then doubled on a fly ball in between the shortstop and the left fielder to bring home Donlan, adding another tally to the board, before the junior was tagged on attempting to advance to third.
Orzechowski went 3-for-5 at the plate with a double, two runs scored, oen RBI, and a stolen base |
Stonehill picked up a fourth run in the top of the third inning as Downey drove the ball out to right field, bringing home Sabo from second who walked to lead off the inning, 4-0. Mercy saw its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth with a hard grounder to second base, but Young retired the side with another fly out.
The Mavericks were able to hold off the Skyhawks for three innings before Stonehill added one more to the scoreboard. With two outs, Orzechowski broke the momentum with a bunt single. He stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before Sabo once again brought in the centerfielder on a double to center field for a five-run game, 5-0.
Young held off Mercy for eight innings before the Skyhawks brought in Eddie Magi in the bottom of the ninth inning. Anthony Murphy launched a long fly ball over the left field fence on the third pitch for a solo homerun, cutting the deficit to four, 5-1. Magi kept the lead and ended the game with a fly out and ground out.
The Skyhawks with play in its first double header of the season tomorrow Friday, February 22 battling Dominican (N.Y.) College at 4:00 p.m. and LIU Post at 7:00 p.m.
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