| Duff had a solid outing of relief, striking out a season-high three batters in 4.2 innings. (Photo Credit Crystal Ayn Hagberg). |
WORCESTER, Mass. (April 9, 2024) – The Stonehill College baseball team dropped its non-conference midweek matchup to Holy Cross, 10-9, Tuesday night. With the loss, the Skyhawks fall to 8-16 overall, while the Crusaders improve to 14-18 on the season.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Graduate student Conor Kiely finished the day with a game-high four hits for the Skyhawks.
- Redshirt junior Jack Thorbahn and junior Dylan Zemotel each launched their respective third and fifth homeruns of the season.
- Redshirt sophomore Sam Parks reached base in all four at-bats after recording a single and three walks.
- Graduate student Billy Duff had a strong outing of relief. Over 4.2 innings, Duff struck out three batters and allowed one run on four hits and one walk.
- Freshman Colin Brown led the way for the Crusaders with three hits, including a pair of doubles.
- Junior Brendan Jones, freshman John LaFleur, and freshman Alex Sandell each drove home a pair of runs on the day for Holy Cross.
- Sandell also registered his second homerun of the season for the Crusaders.
- Freshman Nick Harnisch (2-0) picked up the win on the bump after striking out three batters over 3.0 innings of relief.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Stonehill jumped out to an early one-run lead after the top of the first when senior Blaine Lidsky lifted a sacrifice fly out into left field to score Kiely from third. However, five walks, a hit batter, and run-scoring hits by LaFleur, Jones, and junior Connor Cooney would give Holy Cross a 5-1 lead after the opening frame.
In the bottom of the second, the Crusaders would score three runs after back-to-back extra-base hits from LaFleur and Jones before a double steal attempt with runners on first and third allowed Jones to race home and score Holy Cross' eighth run of the contest.
Undeterred by the seven-run deficit, the Skyhawks, led by Duff on the mound, began their relentless rally. Kiely ignited the spark with an RBI single in the top of the fourth, followed by senior Trey Ciulla-Hall driving home Stonehill's third run of the game with a sacrifice fly. The momentum continued with a double over the head of the Holy Cross left fielder off the bat of senior Jack Marshall. Zemotel then stepped into the batter's box and launched a towering shot over the left field wall, narrowing the Skyhawk deficit to three in the fifth.
The game took a dramatic turn in the sixth inning. With two runners on base and one out in the frame, Thorbahn stepped up and unleashed a three-run shot out into right field, leveling the score at 8-8. Just three batters later, with junior Taylor Gaspar in scoring position, Marshall delivered a line-drive RBI single into left field, giving the Skyhawks their first lead of the game. However, a solo blast off the bat of Sandell, followed by an RBI single through the right side by junior Chris Baillargeon, swung the momentum back in Holy Cross' favor,
| Thorbahn is now tied for the team-lead with five homeruns on the season. (Photo Credit Crystal Ayn Hagberg). |
where they would eventually hold on to win, 10-9.
INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES
- Gaspar is now tied for the team-lead with four stolen bases on the season.
- Lidsky extended his hitting streak to nine games, while Kiely moved his hitting streak to four straight.
- Kiely's matched his career-high total of four hits in a game for the second time this season.
- Sophomore Pierce Friedman, sophomore Jack Iannibelli, senior Tim Cotter (0-1), and junior Max Brulport each made appearances on the mound for Stonehill.
UP NEXT
Stonehill (8-16, 4-8 NEC) returns to action on Wednesday, for a nearby midweek matchup against UMass Lowell. First pitch from LeLacheur Park between the Skyhawks and River Hawks is set for 3 p.m.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.
