Haas struck out a season-high nine batters on the day. (Photo Credit Crystal Ayn Hagberg).

EASTON, Mass. (May 11, 2024) – The Stonehill College baseball team opened the floodgates late in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull away and earn a 10-1 win over Northeast Conference opponent Norfolk State Saturday afternoon at Lou Gorman Field. With the win, the Skyhawks improve to 17-25 overall and 12-14 in conference play, while the Spartans drop to 12-37 overall and 7-22 against conference opponents. 

HIGHLIGHTS

• Junior Dylan Zemotel paved the way for the Skyhawks at the dish, going 3-for-4 on the day with a double, two runs scored, and three run's batted in.
• Graduate student Conor Kiely also drove home three runs for Stonehill, while senior Blaine Lidsky launched his fourth homerun of the season.
• Redshirt sophomore Peter Haas (3-6) picked up his third win of the season after stellar pitching performance, where he struck out nine and allowed one unearned run over 8.0 solid innings of work.
• Senior Manny Jackson recorded two hits on the day to lead the Spartans, while junior Swaroop Pujari laced his fifth double of the season.
• Senior John Horton (2-6) took the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks over 7.0 innings of work with five strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With a scoreless first inning on either side in the books, Norfolk State would open the scoring in the top half of the second. Jackson and junior Brendan Burke led off the frame for the Spartans with back-to-back singles before freshman Kydese Queen would reach base via an error over at third base that allowed Jackson to race home from second and score the game's opening run. Following the infield error, Haas would set down the next three batters to strand two runs on board and head into the bottom half of the second, only trailing by one.

Lidsky would respond for the Skyhawks right away to start the bottom of the second inning. With one swing of the bat, the senior catcher launched a solo homerun over the left field fence to level the game at one aside. After Lidsky's round-tripper that tied the game at 1-1, Haas and Horton settled in on the mound, setting down the next 19 batters in order until the bottom of the fifth, where Stonehill grabbed its first lead of the contest.

Senior shortstop Jack Marshall kicked off the bottom of the fifth inning by lacing a double down the leftfield line before advancing 90 feet away from home on a wild pitch in the dirt. With Marshall on third, Zemotel stepped into the box and lined an RBI single up the middle, giving the Skyhawks their first lead at 2-1 heading into the sixth.

Stonehill extended its lead to three in the seventh inning after a two-run single off Kiely's bat through the left side plated both Zemotel and freshman Ryan LeClair, who reached base earlier in the inning with back-to-back base knocks.

With the Skyhawks leading by three in the top of the eighth inning, the Spartans threatened to score and tie the game, loading the bases with just one out in the frame. However, Haas, still on the mound in his eighth inning of work, came up clutch, forcing a flyball out into shallow leftfield before escaping the bases-loaded jam with his ninth strikeout of the afternoon.

Following Haas's heroics in the top half, the Stonehill bats would reward its starter's efforts in the bottom, scoring six runs and taking a commanding lead into the ninth inning, where sophomore Jimmy Gilleran would slam the door shut on the mound and seal the victory for the Skyhawks.

Five-straight run-scoring base hits from Zemotel, LeClair, Kiely, redshirt sophomore Sam Parks, and senior Trey Ciulla-Hall would fuel the Skyhawks' eighth-inning offensive onslaught and put the game out of reach. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

Lidsky's solo homerun in the second inning leveled the game at one aside. (Photo Credit Craig Myers).

• Ciulla-Hall and Gaspar each improved their on-base streaks to 25 and 28 games, respectively, while Parks and Zemotel have now each reached base in 17 consecutive games. 
• Over the 28 and 25 game spans' for Ciulla-Hall and Gaspar, the duo has recorded at least one hit in 22 and 21 games, respectively.
• Gaspar recorded his eighth stolen base of the season and now ranks third on the team behind Parks (13) and Ciulla-Hall (9).
• Marshall is now riding a team-leading eight-game hitting streak.
• Gilleran struck out one batter in one inning of relief for the Skyhawks.

UP NEXT

Stonehill (17-25, 12-14 NEC) is set for its home finale against Norfolk State on Sunday. First pitch from Lou Gorman Field between the Skyhawks and Spartans is set for 12 p.m.

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