EASTON, Mass (April 6, 2023)- The Stonehill College baseball team opened a three-game Northeast Conference set with the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights at Lou Gorman Field. Despite outhitting the Knights, 9-5, Fairleigh Dickinson grabbed the series-opening win, 5-0 Thursday afternoon.

Standout Performances

• Blaine Lidsky: three hits (3-4)
• Pierce Friedman: set career-highs in innings pitched (8.1) and strikeouts (five)

Key Moments

• Fairleigh Dickinson got on the board early as the Knights posted a four-run first highlighted by an RBI double from Luke Cantwell that made it 4-0 at the time. 
• However, after Cantwell's RBI, Friedman came in for Stonehill starter Zach Gleason and kept the Knights offense at bay by not allowing a run for three-straight innings. Friedman's dominant scoreless stretch included a point where the freshman retired five-straight batters. 
• The Skyhawks threatened in the fourth when Lidsky started the rally with a single to center and in the next two at-bats, Mike Swanholm and Ryan Douglas each hit singles of their own to load the bases with two outs. With the tying run at the plate, Fairleigh Dickinson starter, Jude Baxt got out of the jam when he induced a flyout.
• After the Knights tacked on one more run in the fifth, Stonehill had another chance to cut into the deficit in the seventh. Taylor Gaspar was the Purple and White's first baserunner in the inning after a single and after Conor Kiely ripped a single past second and Sam Parks drew a walk, the Skyhawks loaded the bases for the second time. However, Kngihts relief pitcher, Ian Barrett escaped the jam after he forced a ground out. 
• From there, Barrett kept the squad scoreless for the next two innings as the visitors held on for the 5-0 win. 

Pitching Records

Win: Jude Baxt (4-0)

Loss: Zach Gleason (0-3)

Up Next

Stonehill and Fairleigh Dickinson resume their three-game series tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 3:30 p.m.

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