Senior Eric Schneider went 2-for-4 at the plate in Stonehill's 5-3 win over Bridgeport today. |
Junior Patrick Nicholson turns in complete game effort, striking out six and allowing three runs on six hits
TAMPA, Fla. (March 13, 2015) – Junior lefthander Patrick Nicholson (Middleboro, Massachusetts/Middleboro) turned in a complete game effort, leading the Stonehill College baseball team to a 5-3 non-conference victory over the University of Bridgeport today at the University of Tampa Baseball Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Nicholson struck out six batters and allowed three runs on six hits, improving to 2-0 this season with his performance. Stonehill also posted a balanced offensive effort, as six different Skyhawks recorded hits and all nine reached base.
Senior catcher Eric Schneider (Camarillo, California/St. Bonaventure) went 2-for-4, while classmate Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Plymouth North) was 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI. Junior outfielder Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) scored two runs, stole a base, and extended his hitting streak to nine games with a third inning single.
Sophomore outfielder Casey Ouellette (New Canaan, Connecticut/New Canaan) led Bridgeport's offense with a 1-for-3 effort out of the leadoff spot, as he walked and scored a pair of runs. Freshman Kevin Fich (Bronx, New York/University of San Francisco) went 2-for-4 at the plate, while senior John Ascenzia (West Haven, Connecticut/West Haven) drove in two runs without recording a hit.
Freshman lefty Dave Egeland (Toms River, New Jersey/Brookdale CC) got the start for the Purple Knights and took the loss after giving up four runs (two earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking three.
Nicholson |
Bridgeport scored the game's first run in the top of the first on an RBI groundout by Ascenzia, but Stonehill answered quickly in the bottom half of the inning to go up 2-1. Senior infielder Christian Baglini (Milford, Connecticut/Notre Dame High) worked a one out walk, before advancing to second when junior outfielder Brian Campbell (Franklin, Massachusetts/Mount Saint Charles) was hit by a pitch. Fratus came up next and tied the game with an RBI single to right center field, and two batters later Lee gave the Skyhawks a 2-1 lead with another RBI single.
The Purple Knights came right back with a run in the top of the second on an RBI single by junior outfielder Alec Jannotta (Branford, Connecticut/Branford), scoring classmate Bryan Kondor (Shelton, Connecticut/Shelton) and tying the game at two.
Stonehill regained a two-run edge in the bottom of the third with the help of two errors and singles by Hoyt and Campbell, and Bridgeport would be unable to overcome the deficit. The Purple Knights scored one more time in the fifth on Ascenzia's second RBI groundout of the game, while Stonehill tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Nicholson was dominant over the final four frames, retiring Bridgeport in order three times, while giving up just one hit and facing the minimum number of batters (12).
Stonehill (11-4-1, 0-0 NE-10) will cap its nine-day, 12-game spring break trip in Florida tomorrow when it meets Bridgeport (2-6, 0-0 ECC) for the second straight day at 11 a.m.
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