Kiely posted his third-straight multi-hit game, with a double and two runs scored (PHOTO BY Crystal Ayn Photography)

Six run fifth the difference for Knights, keyed by D'Amato's two-run double

TEANECK, N.J. (March 15, 2024) – FDU rode a six-run fifth inning to a 7-3 triumph over Stonehill College to open their three-game Northeast Conference weekend series at Naimoli Complex this afternoon.

Senior Hunter D'Amato paced FDU by hitting 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a key two-run double to highlight the Knight's six-run outburst in the fifth inning. Postgrad Joan Sosa was also among five from FDU with two hits in the Knights' 13-hit attack, going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore Jeremy Cheeseman finished 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Freshman Joey DiMotta was also in on the two-hit group with a pair of doubles to finish 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Junior Patrick Gardner earned the win on the mound (1-1), scattering five hits over six innings and allowing just an earned run with six strikeouts and a walk. Postgrad Vladimir Ceverino collected his first save of the season, pitching the final three innings with six strikeouts and yielding two runs, just one earned, on three hits and three walks.

Ciulla-Hall was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Skyhawks, marking the sixth mult-hit game of the year in ten games (PHOTO BY Crystal Ayn Photography)

Senior Trey Ciulla-Hall hit 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the way for Stonehill, while postgrad Conor Kiely was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Junior Ryan Douglas took the loss (0-3) on the mound for the Skyhawks, allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts over 4.2 innings.    

How it Happened

• Stonehill struck for a run in the top of the first as Kiely led off with a double and scored on an infield single by Ciulla-Hall after sophomore Sam Parks sacrificed him to third.
• FDU responded right away in the bottom half when Sosa reached on an infield single, stole second and third and scored on a D'Amato groundout with one out.
• The Knights grabbed a lead it would not relinquish with the six-run fifth, started when senior Brelon Harden  reached on a lead off error and later scored on a fielder's choice.
• Postgrad Justin Sierra followed with an RBI single to right and then D'Amato delivered his two-run double to left center that scored Sosa and Sierra, who had stolen second, for a 4-1 lead. Postgrad Brian Sanders drove in DiMotta, who had reached with a double, and then scored on Cheeseman's two-out double to right center for the 7-1 FDU lead.
• Stonehill mounted a rally attempt in the eighth, taking advantage of an error after Kiely led off with a single to left. He would score on a bases-loaded walk drawn by senior Blaine Lidsky before senior Jack Marshall delivered an RBI single through the right side to score Parks.
• Ceverino recovered from there by striking out the next two batters to escape the jam and worked around a two out single in the ninth to seal the win.

Noteworthy

• Marshall extended his hit streak to eight games with his RBI single in the eighth and has a hit in nine of Stonehill's ten games this season.
• Kiely has now hit safely in four-straight with three consecutive multi-hit games after starting the year 4-for-28 (.143) by hitting 6-for-15 (.400).
• Ciulla-Hall, who has a hit in seven of Stonehill's ten games this season, posted his sixth multi-hit game. He is fourth among NEC leaders with his team-leading .405 batting average.
• Stonehill got 3.1 scoreless innings from its bullpen as three different pitchers scattered five hits and two walks by striking out four.

Up Next

Stonehill (4-6, 0-1 NEC) and FDU (4-12, 2-2 NEC) will continue their three game weekend series on Saturday at Naimoli Complex at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks home opener is now scheduled for next weekend when it opens a three-game NEC weekend series with Sacred Heart University at Lou Gorman Field on Friday, March 22, at 3 p.m.

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