Senior Eric Schneider went 3-for-4 at the plate with a double as Stonehill posted a 5-0 win over Saint Anselm today. |
Senior Neal Horan strikes out six and allows just three hits over eight shutout innings
EASTON, Mass. (April 19, 2015) – Senior Neal Horan (Mashpee, Massachusetts/BC High) struck out six batters and allowed just three hits over eight shutout innings as Stonehill College posted a 5-0 victory over Saint Anselm College this afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball action at Lou Gorman Field.
With this afternoon's triumph, Stonehill completed a three-game sweep of the Hawks and in the process extended its winning streak to seven games. The Skyhawk pitching staff was dominant throughout the weekend series, limiting Saint Anselm to one run on 13 hits over the three contests.
Horan also hit one batter and walked three but matched his longest outing of the season to improve to 2-2 this spring. Sophomore Aubrey Solomon (Groton, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) came on in relief and worked a hitless ninth, walking one batter and recording one strikeout.
Senior catcher Eric Schneider (Camarillo, California/Saint Bonaventure) led the Skyhawks at the plate, as he went 3-for-4 with a double and a run. Junior outfielder Brian Campbell (Franklin, Massachusetts/Mount Saint Charles Academy) added two hits and one run, while senior shortstop Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Massachusetts/Plymouth North), junior outfielder Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) and sophomore third baseman Steve Lee (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) recorded one RBI each.
Sophomore Joseph Levasseur (Rowley, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick) took the loss for Saint Anselm but was solid in his seven innings on the mound, striking out five and allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits.
Senior Neal Horan improved to 2-2 with the win after striking out six batters over eight shutout innings. |
Sophomore Matthew Flynn (Saratoga Springs, New York/Saratoga Springs) got on base twice with a walk and a single to lead the Saint Anselm offense, while freshmen Shaine Carpenter (Florham Park, New Jersey/Bridgton Academy) and Max Wadington (Burlington, Connecticut/Lewis Mills) chipped in with one single each.
Horan cruised through the first two frames this afternoon, using just 16 pitches to retire the side in order in both innings. The offense provided him with run support in the bottom of the second, scoring twice on three hits and an error. Schneider got it started with a leadoff single, before advancing to second on a sacrifice and third on a groundout. Hoyt plated Schneider with an RBI single up the middle for the game's first run, and senior Christian Baglini (Milford, Connecticut/Notre Dame High) followed with another single, extending his hitting streak to nine games. A subsequent Saint Anselm error allowed Hoyt to score from third, giving Stonehill a 2-0 lead.
The Hawks were unable to cut into their deficit in the third despite advancing two runners into scoring position with only one out, before leaving the bases loaded in the fourth as Wadington struck out looking to end the frame.
Horan stranded two more runners on base in the fifth, and retired Saint Anselm in order in the sixth, seventh, and eighth. Stonehill added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI double by Fratus, before tacking on two more in the eighth, as Lee delivered an RBI single before coming around to score on a wild pitch.
Solomon took over for Horan in the top of the ninth, walking the first batter he faced before getting three quick outs with a double play and a strikeout.
Stonehill (23-9-1, 11-5 NE-10) will look to keep rolling on Tuesday afternoon, as the Skyhawks are scheduled to host Mercy College for a non-conference doubleheader at 2 p.m. Saint Anselm (10-20, 7-10 NE-10) is back in action tomorrow with a divisional matchup at crosstown rival Southern New Hampshire University.
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