Junior Alex McCormick allowed just a single run with seven strikeouts over 9.2 innings on the mound for the Skyhawks.

Bentley Slips Past Stonehill in 13, 2-1

Falcons avoid three-game series sweep with one-out RBI single by Damato

Boxscore

WALTHAM, Mass. (April 8, 2010) – Bentley University rallied late before edging Stonehill College 2-1 in 13 innings in a Northeast-10 Conference baseball matchup at DeFelice Field this afternoon.

Senior Brett Damato (Commack, N.Y./Commack) drove in the winning run with a one-out single to left that allowed classmate Charlie Pagliarulo (Medford, Mass./Medford) to score from second for Bentley. Pagliarulo led off with a single and stole second to get into scoring position for Damato, who finished 2-for-6 with the RBI. Pagliarulo hit 2-for-5 on the day for the Falcons with a stolen base.

Sophomore Rich McHugh (Pembroke, Mass./Thayer Academy) led Stonehill by hitting 2-for-5 with a double, stolen base and run scored. Senior Mitch Davis (Bow, N.H./Bow) posted his fourth-straight multiple hit game, finishing 2-for-6, while classmate Thomas Marino (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) went 2-for-5.

Senior Mitch Davis notched his fourth-straight mult-hit game for the Skyhawks. (PHOTO BY Richard Orr)

Both starting pitchers threw beyond nine innings on the afternoon and didn't figure in the decision. Stonehill junior righthander Alex McCormick (Weymouth, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) went 9.2 innings and allowed just an earned run on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk. The base on balls was the first issued by McCormick in 35.2 innings this season and came to the last batter he faced before being lifted for junior reliever Brenden Shepard (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet). Bentley freshman righthander John Yohe (Merrick, N.Y./St. Dominic) pitched 11 innings, allowing only an earned run on nine hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks, retiring the last eight batters he faced.

Bentley senior reliever Dean Sandonato (Quincy, Mass./BC High) picked up the win (3-0) as he faced the minimum over two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Shepard took the loss (2-1), yielding an earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks over 2.2 innings.

After the two teams combined to score 35 runs in two Stonehill wins on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Skyhawks looked poised to squeeze out a 1-0 victory to complete the midweek series sweep. McCormick retired Pagliarulo to lead off the bottom of the ninth, but junior James Roche (Arlington, Mass./Arlington) followed with a double to left to spark the comeback. McCormick got Damato to pop out for the second out of the frame, but junior Chris Hardy (Warwick, R.I./Bishop Hendricken) followed with a single through the right side to score Roche with the tying run and force extra innings.

Stonehill's lone run came in the sixth when McHugh doubled to right center with two out and scored on a single to right by junior Angelo Bruno (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk).

Stonehill (11-11, 6-4 NE-10) is back on the field on Saturday when it hosts Assumption College for a Northeast-10 doubleheader at Lou Gorman Field starting at noon. Bentley (13-15, 8-4 NE-10) hosts NE-10 leaders Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.