The Warriors score three in the bottom of the eighth to top the Skyhawks
Lucier was one of two multi-hit batters for the Skyhawks |
DANVERS, Massachusetts (March 31, 2019) – The Stonehill College baseball team (12-14, 3-3 NE10) fought back with five runs for a one-run lead, 9-8, but Merrimack College (12-10, 6-2 NE10) scored three in the bottom of the eighth, 10-8, to sweep the Skyhawks in the three-game series Sunday morning at St. John's Prep.
For the Skyhawks, Noah Lucier was one of two multi-hit batters for Stonehill swinging 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI, while Jeremiah Vargas combined for 2-for-5 with one run across. Harrison Sabo and Rob Duarte totaled two RBI, as Patrick Downey registered the final RBI for Stonehill.
The Warriors saw four multi-hit batters including Joey Porricelli who went 3-for-5 with one run scored and three RBI. Thomas Joyce went 2-for-4 with one run scored, two RBI, and a homerun, while Kurtis Stadnicki went 2-for-4 with one RBI and Michael Jamele swung 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
The Skyhawks put the first run on the board in the top of the first as Sabo grounded into a double play but Matthew Rocco snuck in for the first lead of the game, 1-0. Merrimack responded with four runs off of five hits in the bottom of the frame for a three-run lead, 4-1, including two a triple from Porricelli to lead off the inning and an inside the park homerun.
Stonehill tried to get back in the game with two runs from Lucier's triple and Downey's ground out, cutting the deficit to one, 4-3, but Merrimack topped the Skyhawks in the bottom of the frame once again. The Warriors tallied three runs off of four hits to extend its lead to four, 7-3.
The Skyhawks gave up no hits in the next five innings, keeping the Warriors scoreless. In the fifth and seventh innings, Stonehill put two on the board in each of the two innings from Sabo's seventh double of the season, which saw two cross home, and Duarte's two-run single to center field. These four runs tied the game for the first time, 7-7.
Duarte was one of two Skyhawks to tally more than one RBI |
In the top of the eight, Merrimack put in their fourth pitcher of the day and with one out and a runner on first, Matt Donlan reached on a throwing error as he dropped a sacrifice bunt and Lucier advanced home from first on the error for their second lead of the game, 9-8. With two outs, Merrimack walked back-to-back batters loading the bases and the Warriors got out of the inning on a fielder's choice.
Merrimack led the bottom of the eighth off with a walk and with one out another batter walked and Jamele singled to load the bases. Porricelli sent the ball to right center reaching third for a triple bringing home all three runners seeing their first lead since the fourth inning, 10-8. Stonehill retired the side putting Vargas on the mound striking out one and getting the final batter to fly out to right field.
With the middle of the lineup up to bat, Stonehill was unable to get a runner on to come back in the top of the ninth as the Warriors too their fourth-straight victory, 10-8.
Stonehill hosts NE10 foe Bentley University on Tuesday, April 2 on Gorman Field with a first pitch slated for 3:30 p.m. for the first game of the three-game series.
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