Senior Brian Hocking powered the offense today with three hits including a homerun, a double and three RBI. |
Skyhawks have won 11 of their last 13 games
EASTON, Mass. (April 24, 2016) – The Stonehill College baseball team continued to roll behind its strong pitching as sophomore Michael Young (Mashpee, Massachusetts/Pope John Paul II) pitched eight innings of one run ball with eight strikeouts in the opener, before the Skyhawks combined to strikeout ten batters in game two at Lou Gorman Field. Stonehill earned a 4-1 Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division win in the opener and posted a come-from-behind 3-2 non-conference victory in game two.
With today's doubleheader sweep, the Skyhawks completed a 4-0 weekend on Lou Gorman Field, pitching to a 1.00 ERA as a team while striking out 33 batters over 36 innings. Stonehill has won 11 of its last 13 games dating back to April 9th.
Junior Ben Monte (New Haven, Connecticut/Guilford) led the Skyhawks at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a triple and three runs. Senior Brian Hocking (Duxbury, Massachusetts/BC High) had a tremendous day at the plate, finishing 3-for-8 with a homerun, a double, three RBI and a run scored, while junior Eddie Bowler (Hingham, Massachusetts/Hingham) and classmate Steve Lee (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) posted three hits each.
Young took the ball in game one and tossed a gem, pitching eight innings while surrendering just one run while striking out eight batters. In game two, junior Patrick Hurley (Roslindale, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) got the start but exited after the second inning, allowing two runs on a hit and a walk. Senior Mike Krupczak (Springfield, Massachusetts/Cathedral), sophomore Joe Klingensmith (Topsfield, Massachusetts/Masconomet) and freshman Aran Hamilton-Grenham (Woburn, Massachusetts/Buckingham Browne & Nichols) combined to shutout Saint Michael's before junior Aubrey Solomon (Groton, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) came on in the ninth and picked up his second save of the afternoon.
For Saint Michael's, freshman Matt Downing (Hanover, Massachusetts/Archbishop Williams) led the way with a 3-for-8 effort. Sophomore Aiden Burton (Milford, Connecticut/Notre Dame) and freshman Calvin Holland (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) each recorded a hit and RBI, while sophomore Peter Bocchino (Saugus, Massachusetts/The Governor's Academy) scored a run and registered a hit.
Stonehill 4, Saint Michael's 1
Stonehill scored the game's first three runs in the second inning, as Monte started the rally with a one-out triple to deep centerfield and Bowler drove him in on a single up the middle. Hocking then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run homerun over the right field fence to stake the Skyhawks to a three run lead.
Stonehill added a fourth run in the fourth inning when Monte and Hocking were once again the Catalysts. Monte led off the inning with a single through the left side of the infield and Hocking connected on a one-out double to left field, scoring Monte all the way from first base.
Saint Michael's broke its scoreless drought in the sixth inning, as freshman Sean Winthrop (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Lawrence Academy) singled to centerfield and junior Drew Salk (Billerica, Massachusetts/Billerica Memorial) followed with a single to put two men on base. Holland then recorded an RBI groundout to put the Purple Knights on the board.
Young was terrific throughout, and left the game in the top of the ninth with a three run lead. Solomon came on for the save situation and put down Saint Michael's in order to record his eighth save of the season.
Sophomore Michael Young pitched eight innings, only allowing one run to go with eight strikeouts. |
Stonehill 3, Saint Michael's 2
Saint Michael's scored two quick runs in the second inning to open the game, giving the Purple Knights their first lead of the four game series. Saint Michael's would hold on to the lead for the majority of the game, as freshman righty Christian Devine (Exeter, New Hampshire/Exeter) limited Stonehill at the plate.
Stonehill threatened in the bottom of the second inning, as Monte led off with a single through the left side of the infield and Hocking singled to put two runners on with no outs. Devine was able to work out of the jam however, maintaining Saint Michael's lead.
Stonehill was finally able to break through in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Lee led off with a single through the left side of the infield and Schneider followed with a single up the middle. With two men on and no outs, Bowler connected on a single to right center field to score Lee and put the Skyhawks on the board. After Monte walked to load the bases with no outs, Devine exited the game and sophomore Colin Brennan (Braintree, Massachusetts/Boston College) came on in relief, coaxing a double play to nearly get out of the inning with the lead. Sophomore Alex Hurley (Rumford, Rhode Island/Worcester Academy) came up huge for the Skyhawks, as he delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to give Stonehill the lead for good.
With a one run lead, Solomon was asked to come on to record the three final outs for the second game in a row. The junior was up to the challenge, as he put Saint Michael's down in order again, punching out two batters along the way.
Stonehill (23-13, 11-6 NE-10) is back in action on Wednesday, as the Skyhawks travel to Bentley University for a single contest starting at 3:30 p.m. Saint Michael's (2-24, 1-13 NE-10) returns to action on Wednesday as well, as the Purple Knights travel to Saint Anselm College for a single contest starting at 3:30 p.m.
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