Lee kicks off the season hitting 2-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 23, 2017) – The Stonehill College baseball team flew to an early 6-0 lead but fell short to Mercy College, 10-8, in its season opener Saturday night in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Bowler got on base twice in four at bats tallying three RBIs |
Stonehill (0-1) saw seniors Steve Lee (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) and Eddie Bowler (Hingham, Massachusetts/Hingham) lead the offense. Third basemen Lee batted 2-for-4 with two RBI, two stolen bases, one run scored, and two singles to kick off his final season with the Skyhawks. Bowler The Skyhawks totaled five walks, two hit by pitch and eight hits to assist them in scoring eight runs in their first game.
Mercy (1-0) picked up an opening victory against the Skyhawks, as freshman John Mooradian led the Mavericks at the plate hitting 3-for-4 with a double, two walks and two runs scored. Freshman pitcher Matteo Finocchi threw three innings to close the game and totaled no hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Neither team was able to get on board in the first inning as Mercy was able to get five batters through and Stonehill got four through. Patrick Hurley (Roslindale, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) shut down the Mavericks for four innings from the mound, as he only gave up three hits and struck out two. The Skyhawks, on the other hand, captitalized on Mercy's quiet inning by scoring six runs in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Harrison Sabo (Wilton, Connecticut/Wilton) kicked off the inning with a single to the grass. The lineup fell in place as three more hits, a double, and two walks gave the Skyhawks an early 6-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Mavericks came around with their bats and patient eyes as two hits and four walks was the game changer, tying the game at six. Stonehill was able to squeeze in two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Tyler Carey (Raynham, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham) sent a single to the outfield as the leadoff batter. After only the Syhawks' fourth strikeout of the game, Lee swung for his second single of the year, sending Carey to third. Lee stole second with Bowler at the plate. Bowler took his time and punched his first double of the year and 20th of his career, to score his first two RBIs of the season, 54th of his four years. His rocket gave Stonehill an 8-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
With only three errors, the Skyhawks' defense held the Mavericks for another inning, as Mercy tallied another four runs in the top of the eighth off of three hits, one double and two walks for their first lead of the game, 10-8. Neither team was able to connect in the ninth inning for more runs as Mercy took the win.
The Skyhawks face Dominican (N.Y.) College at 1:00 p.m. and then Concordia (N.Y.) College at 4:00 p.m. for their first doubleheader of the season on Friday, February 24 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
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