Parks reached base in all four at-bats, going 2-2 with two walks and a run scored. (Photo Credit Mike Sudhalter).

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (February 27, 2024) – On Tuesday afternoon, the Stonehill College baseball team held off Bryant University for a narrow 5-3 midweek victory at Conaty Park in Smithfield, Rhode Island. With the win, the Skyhawks improved to an even 2-2 record, while the Bulldogs dropped to 1-4 overall.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Stonehill tallied the first run of the game in the opening frame after postgrad left fielder Conor Kiely reached base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the game. Following a sacrifice bunt from center fielder Sam Parks, senior captain Trey Ciulla-Hall would step up to dish and place a single into left, scoring Kiely from third and giving the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead. 

Bryant would waste little time answering the Skyhawk's opening inning score as senior Gavin Noriega sent an opposite-field fly ball over the left field fence, tying the game up at one aside. The home run marked Noriega's fifth of the season and extended his hitting streak to five games to open the year. 

The Bulldogs threatened to score in the bottom of the second with runners in scoring position with no one out. However, junior reliever Zach Gleason would work the Skyhawks out of the jam on the mound with an inning-ending double-play to senior Jack Marshall at shortstop. The Skyhawks would regain their one-run lead on the scoreboard in the top of the third after Ciulla-Hall drove his second RBI single into left field, plating junior Taylor Gaspar from second. 

In the top of the fourth inning, with freshman catcher Aidan Sengenberger in scoring position, Gaspar would line an RBI single past the Bulldog's second baseman and into right-center field, extending the Skyhawks lead to 3-1. Sophomore Jimmy Gilleran would be called into action in the bottom half, where he would later escape a bases-loaded one-out jam. A hard-hit ground ball from Bryant's pinch hitter, junior Ryan Santangelo, to Ciulla-Hall at third base initiated an inning-ending double play for the second time. 

Ciulla-Hall continued his torrent day at the plate in the top of the seventh inning with his third RBI single of the afternoon. With the bases loaded, the senior third baseman drove a line drive through the middle of the infield to bring home Gaspar for his second run scored.

Bryant responded in the bottom of the eighth with a pair of runs to cut the Skyhawks lead to 4-3. After a fielder's choice allowed freshman Shea Grady to reach base and sophomore Gavin Greger to cross the plate, senior Lewis Barnum hit a weak infield single to second, scoring sophomore Justin Hackett and cutting the gap to one run.  

Castrichini earned his first career save after pitching the final two innings against the Bulldogs. (Photo Credit Mike Sudhalter).

At the top of the ninth inning, Stonehill would regain a two-run lead on the board with an RBI single off the bat of first baseman Jack Thorbahn. With a sense of breathing room added for the Skyhawks, senior reliever Joe Castrichini returned to the mound for a second inning of work in the bottom of the ninth. Castrichini would strand a runner on third after striking out Noriega on three pitches to end the game and seal the 5-3 victory over the Bulldogs. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• The Skyhawks turned three inning-ending double plays throughout the contest.
• Gilleran (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after appearing in 4.0 innings of relief, where he tallied four punch outs during the day. 
• Castrichini earned his first career save on the mound after finishing off the game in the eighth and ninth innings. 
• Junior Ryan Douglas, freshman Zach Brockner, and Gleason also appeared on the hill for Stonehill. 
• Brockner's inning of relief marked his first collegiate appearance, where he dealt a pair of strikeouts. 
• Ciulla-Hall led the Skyhawks at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. 
• Parks reached base in all four at-bats, going 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored. 

UP NEXT

Stonehill (2-2, 0-0 NEC) returns to action this weekend for a three-game set against Florida Atlantic University. First pitch of Friday's series opener between the Skyhawks and Owls is set for 6:30 p.m. in Boca Raton, Florida.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.