Skyhawks launch three home runs against Clippers pitching, compile 12 hits total

Michael Zeiner went 2-for-5 at the plate with one home run and one run batted in for the Skyhawks.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (February 26, 2012) – Stonehill College, ranked sixth overall in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) preseason East Regional Poll, wrapped up its trip at the Ripken Experience Northeast Challenge at The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach with an 8-2 win over Concordia (N.Y.) in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Zach Soulier (Milford, Conn./Jonathan Law) earned the win on six innings pitched, four hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and two punchouts. Freshman right-hander Peter Cassidy (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) did not allow a hit or a run in two innings of relief to go along with two walks and two strikeouts. Senior right-handed pitcher Brendan Wright (Easton, Mass./Cardinal Spellman) finished off the contest with a clean ninth inning.

Senior Michael White (Lisbon, N.H./Lisbon Regional) and junior Michael Zeiner (Simsbury, Conn./Simsbury) both went 2-for-5 with a solo home run to lead the offense. Senior Steven Popp (Unionville, Conn./Farmington) was 1-for-4 with a solo homer while freshman Dan Pidgeon (Darien, Conn./Darien) had a 2-for-4 showing at the plate with two runs batted in.

Popp jump started Stonehill's offense in the second inning with a leadoff home run to give the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead. Junior James DeAlto (Briarcliff Manor, N.Y./Briarcliff) extended the inning with a two-out double and Pidgeon followed with his first-career collegiate hit, an RBI single, to make it 2-0.

White tacked on another run in the bottom of the third scoring a run through the backdoor on a double play ball after reaching base on a single.

In the fifth with one out, White and Zeiner launched back-to-back solo homers off of freshman right-hander Jake Matranga (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) to push the advantage to 5-0. Senior Michael Magnussen (Carver, Mass./Coyle & Cassidy) followed with a double and eventually came around to score on a two-out RBI base knock by sophomore Billy Karalis (Pawtucket, R.I./Bishop Feehan) for a 6-0 gap.

After Concordia (N.Y.) cut into the deficit with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, Stonehill answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to reclaim a six-run lead, 8-2. DeAlto drove in Popp, who walked earlier in the inning, on a sacrifice fly and Pidgeon brought home his second run of the game on a single scoring Karalis, who also earned a walk in the frame.

Stonehill (4-1, 0-0 NE-10, 0-0 Northeast Division) returns to action on Saturday, March 3 against Molloy College in doubleheader action at Joe Nathan Field in Stony Brook, N.Y. with game one scheduled for noon. The Skyhawks first home game of the season is scheduled for Thursday, March 29 against Assumption College at 3:30 p.m.

- www.stonehillskyhawks.com -