Stonehill takes game one, 7-2, Magnussen delivers walk-off single in game two

Michael White has not given up a run in 19.1-consecutive innings pitched.

EASTON, Mass. (May 5, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth overall in the latest NCBWA East Regional Poll, completed a doubleheader sweep of Merrimack College, 7-2 and 1-0, on "Senior Day" at Lou Gorman Field in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) Northeast Division action on Saturday evening.

Prior to game one of the doubleheader, seniors Bryan Galligan (Brockton, Mass./Brockton), Eric Haughn (Pembroke, Mass./Pembroke), Michael Magnussen (Carver, Mass./Coyle & Cassidy), Matt Olsen (Winchester, Mass./Winchester), Steven Popp (Unionville, Conn./Farmington), Michael Von Stein (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull), Michael White (Lisbon, N.H./Lisbon Regional) and Brendan Wright (Easton, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) were all honored for their contributions towards the Stonehill baseball program during their careers at the College.

Stonehill 7, Merrimack 2

Kyle Shepard (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet) improved to 4-2 overall on the season completing six innings, giving up five hits, two runs (all earned), two walks and five strikeouts. Haughn notched his second-career save throwing three shutout and hitless inning and issuing one free pass while striking out three batters. He retired the last five hitters he faced to close out the contest using a 5-4-3 double play, two strikeouts and a pair of groundouts.

Freshman Joe Carnevale (East Providence, R.I./East Providence) was handed the loss on three innings pitched, seven hits, five runs (all earned), three walks and five punchouts.

Merrimack took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Mark O'Flynn (Ipswich, Mass./Ipswich) drove in a run with a two-out base knock to right field. With two outs in the frame, junior designated hitter Joe Mantoni (Northbridge, Mass./Hopedale) was hit-by-a-pitch and Dionys Quezada (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence) singled to right field to set up the scoring.

Stonehill answered in the third inning with five runs on six hits and never looked back. Sophomore second baseman Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) plated junior shortstop Michael Zeiner (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) and White with a triple to right centerfield, his NE-10 leading ninth triple of the season, for a 2-0 advantage. Fratus is currently in a three-way tie for first place in all of NCAA Division II baseball with nine triples so far this season.

Sophomore right fielder Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Feehan) followed with a RBI single to left centerfield, Magnussen drove in a run with a single through the right side of the infield and Colin Shepard (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet) knocked in the last run of the inning on a single to center.

Karalis added a sacrifice fly RBI to right field in the fourth and freshman third baseman Dan Pidgeon (Darien, Conn./Darien) crushed a run-producing double to left center in the fifth.

Stonehill 1, Merrimack 0

Michael Magnussen hit a walk-off single in game two for the Skyhawks.

White extended his scoreless innings streak to 19.1-consecutive innings pitched with his second-straight complete game shutout in as many starts. White's scoreless streak dates back to April 15 against Southern New Hampshire where he pitched a scoreless sixth inning and also recorded one out in the seventh before being lifted from the contest.

White pushed his record to 4-2 overall against the Warriors giving up just three hits, one walk and striking out a game-high eight batters. White dominated Merrimack through two stretches of the contest retiring ten-straight from the first inning until the fourth and also strung together 12-straight outs from the fourth inning until the eighth.

Sophomore Alek Morency (Nashua, N.H./Nashua North) suffered the loss in relief on one-and-two-thirds innings pitched, two hits, one run (earned), one walk and three strikeouts. Junior Mike Laracy (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) was handed the no decision in seven innings of work, three hits, no runs, two walks and five strikeouts.

With two outs and Fratus at second base in the bottom of the ninth inning, Merrimack elected to intentionally walk Popp with first base open to get to Magnussen. The senior left fielder seized the moment on "Senior Day" ripping a single to right field delivering the game-winning run.

The Warriors best chance to score in the contest came in the top of the ninth as freshman pinch-hitter Rob Crocitto (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by the Sea) blooped a leadoff single into left centerfield and eventually advanced to third base on two sacrifice bunts. White squandered the threat as the senior southpaw induced a pop up by Casey Cotter (Northampton, N.H. Dean CC) to end the inning.

Stonehill (29-18, 17-11 NE-10, 12-8 Northeast Division) hosts Merrimack (17-31, 8-20 NE-10, 4-16 Northeast Division) tomorrow at Lou Gorman Field for a single game at 1 p.m.