Junior Ben Monte continued his hot hitting at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, run and RBI. |
Sophomore Pat Shore strikes out four and allows just five hits over six scoreless innings
EASTON, Mass. (April 19, 2016) – Sophomore Pat Shore (Norwood, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) struck out four batters and allowed just five hits over six shutout innings as Stonehill College posted a 3-0 victory over Assumption College this afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division baseball action at Lou Gorman Field.
Shore also hit two batters and walked two but improved to 3-1 this spring. Junior Patrick Hurley (Roslindale, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) came on in relief and pitched 1.2 innings, striking out three, while walking one. Classmate Aubrey Solomon (Groton, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) picked up his seventh save of the season after coming on in the eighth innings and recording the final four outs of the game.
Junior outfielder Ben Monte (New Haven, Connecticut/Guilford) led the Skyhawks at the plate, as he went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run. Junior shortstop Steve Lee (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) added two hits and an RBI, while sophomore outfielder Alex Hurley (Rumford, Rhode Island/Worcester Academy) recorded an RBI and run.
Sophomore Mike Curtis (Wilmington, Massachusetts/Wilmington) took the loss for Assumption but was solid in his 7.2 innings on the mound, striking out three and allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits.
Sophomore Andrew Jaehnig (Quincy, Massachusetts/Boston College) got on base three times with a walk, a single and a triple to lead the Assumption offense, while senior Michael Panza (West Haven, Connecticut/Notre Dame) and freshman Hunter Tralli (Berlin, Connecticut/Northwest Catholic) chipped in with one single each.
Shore cruised through the first two innings, facing the minimum batters while allowing one hit, which was wiped out on a double play when the runner left third base to early on a fly ball. Stonehill looked to give Shore run support in the second as Monte singled and sophomore Alexander Joyce (Newton, Massachusetts/Newton North) followed with a single to right field to move Monte over to third with no outs. Curtis was able to work out of the jam however, coaxing a double play and a groundout to leave the inning with no damage.
Stonehill got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Hurley singled and sophomore Isiah Nunez (Brooklyn, New York/Berkshire School) reached on a groundball to the pitcher who subsequently threw the second baseman off the bag, leaving both runners safe. Senior Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position and Lee hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to score Hurley from third.
Stonehill added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, as senior Brian Hocking (Duxbury, Massachusetts/BC High) reached base when he was hit by a pitch with one out. Junior Eddie Bowler (Hingham, Massachusetts/Hingham) then singled to right field to advance Hocking to third and Monte continued his hot streak at the plate, doubling to right center field to score Hocking. Hurley then walked with the bases loaded to bring in the final run of the game.
Solomon took over for Hurley in the top of the eighth with two outs; walking the first batter he faced before getting the next batter to fly out to end the inning. In the ninth, Solomon shut the door on any comeback, striking out two batters to earn his seventh save of the season.
Stonehill (19-13, 8-6 NE-10) returns to Lou Gorman field on Saturday when they host Saint Michael's College for a four game weekend series, starting at noon. Assumption (14-19, 9-10 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday when the Greyhounds host Franklin Pierce University for a three game weekend series starting at noon.
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