NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (May 19, 2023)- The Stonehill College baseball team split its final two games in a doubleheader with Northeast Conference leader, Central Connecticut State University by falling in game one 8-4, and then winning game two, 8-4.

Game One: Stonehill 4, Central Connecticut 8

Standout Performances

• Mike Swanholm: home run (2-3)
• Trey Ciulla-Hall: three hits (3-5)

Key Moments

• Stonehill jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning when Blaine Lidsky ripped a two-out RBI single to left that allowed Sam Parks to score after he singled earlier in the frame.
• However, after Central Connecticut evened things at one in the bottom half of the first, the Blue Devils utilized a six-run second to pull ahead 7-1 highlighted by a Ramon Jimenez two-run home run. 
• Two innings later after the Blue Devils tacked on another run for their largest lead (8-1), Stonehill trimmed the deficit to five (8-3) when Swanholm belted his third homer of the season to right field. His two-run shot marked a new career-high for the senior third basemen. 
• The Skyhawks held the Blue Devils scoreless in the eighth and would once again cut the host's lead after Ciulla-Hall sent a double down the right-field line that plated Swanholm. Ciulla-Hall's two-out RBI double was his 40th of the season and 77th of his career. Despite the late momentum, Central Connecticut shut down Stonehill's late rally by retiring the next batter for the 8-4 win. 

Pitching Records

Win: Jake Neuman (6-1)

Loss: Ryan Douglas (3-4)

Game Two: Stonehill 8, Central Connecticut 4

Standout Performances

• Blaine Lidsky: home run (2-5)
• Taylor Gaspar: home run (1-2)
• Pierce Friedman: career-high 10 strikeouts (6.1 IP and four hits)

Key Moments

• Just like game one, Stonehill jumped out to an early lead but this time, the Purple and White had their largest scoring inning with five runs. Lidsky highlighted the frame with a three-run homer to left field and then after Jack Marshall singled in the next at-bat, Gaspar drove him with a two-run shot that put the Purple and White up 5-0. 
• From there, Stonehill starter, Pierce Friedman kept the Blue Devils at bay by not allowing a through the first six innings that included a stretch between the third and fifth innings where he retired six-straight batters. 
• Later in the fifth, the Skyhawks tacked on three more insurance runs for their largest lead on the afternoon (8-0). Parks started off the scoring after he took advantage of a Blue Devils error in center from a ball hit by Ciulla-Hall. Parks was able to get on base earlier in the inning after he singled to right which extended his on-base streak to 34 games. Two batters later, Gaspar drew Stonehill's third walk of the afternoon that brought home Ciulla-Hall, and then Swanholm capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
• Two innings later in the bottom of the seventh, Central Connecticut trimmed Stonehill's lead in half with a four-run inning that made it 8-4. Jimmy Sullivan highlighted the offense for the Blue Devils with his two-run RBI double that had made it 8-4. Despite the late push, relief pitcher, Billy Duff shut down the Blue Devils momentum after he generated a clutch flyout with runners on second and third.
• Duff continued to quiet Central Connecticut's offense in the eighth and ninth when the senior did not allow a single hit and secured the 8-4 victory. 

Pitching Records

Win: Pierce Friedman (2-2)

Loss: Randy Reyes (2-3)

Stonehill concludes its inaugural Division I season with an overall 14-35 record and a 10-20 record within the NEC. The Skyhawks earned their first Division I win back on March 5 when the Skyhawks topped Patriot League member Army West Point, 7-4. Later that month, the squad notched its first NEC win beating Long Island University, 10-7 (March 25).

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