Michael White pitched eight innings and struck out 11 in game one.

Skyhawks win both games, 4-3, in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 25, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth overall in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) preseason East Regional Poll, swept its doubleheader against Post University on Saturday afternoon at the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge at The Ripken Experience – Myrtle Beach today by identical 4-3 scores.

Stonehill 4, Post 3 (nine innings)

Held scoreless for the first eight innings, Stonehill exploded for four runs on four hits to complete its come-from-behind victory in game one.

Senior right-hander pitcher Brendan Wright (Easton, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) earned the win recording one strikeout. Senior left-handed pitcher Michael White (Lisbon, N.H./Lisbon Regional) was handed the no-decision on eight innings pitched, three hits, one run (earned), no walks and 11 strikeouts.

Sophomore Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Feehan) went 2-for-4 with one run batted in while junior James DeAlto (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) was 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI double to lead the offense.

In the bottom of the ninth, junior shortstop Michael Zeiner (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) led off the frame with a triple to jump start Stonehill's rally. Senior Michael Magnussen (Carver, Mass./Coyle & Cassidy) followed with an RBI single which cut into the deficit at 3-1.

Senior Steven Popp (Unionville, Conn./Farmington) drew a walk to continue the rally and Karalis pushed the score to 3-2 with a base knock driving in Magnussen. Sophomore Dan Fratus (Plymouth, Mass./Plymouth North) followed with a walk to load the bases and DeAlto was hit-by-a-pitch scoring Popp to make it 3-3.

After a Colin Shepard (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet) out, freshman Matt Anziano (Belchertown, Mass./Belchertown) drove in the game-winning run with a single.

Stonehill 4, Post 3 (nine innings, scheduled for seven)

White lifted Stonehill to its sweep over Post University with the eventual game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning, his first of the season, in a game that was originally schedule for seven innings.

Senior Kyle Shepard (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet) was handed the no-decision in game two on five innings pitched, three runs (two earned), one strikeout and two walks. Freshman right-hander Armand Rugel (Middletown, R.I./Middletown) earned the win in relief on four innings of work, one hit, no runs and five strikeouts.

White led the offense with a 3-for-5 showing at the plate and one home run. Popp went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and Colin Shepard was 1-for-3 with a single.

In the fourth inning, Popp gave the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead on an RBI double but Post University responded in the bottom half of the frame to even the score at 1-1.

After the Eagles scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Stonehill answered with one run apiece in the sixth and seventh innings. DeAlto cut the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly that scored Popp and Magnussen made it 3-3 in the seventh with a fielder's choice RBI.

Stonehill (3-1, 0-0 NE-10, 0-0 Northeast Division) returns to action tomorrow in Myrtle Beach, S.C. against Concordia College at noon. The Skyhawks first home game of the season is scheduled for Thursday, March 29 against Assumption College at 3:30 p.m.

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