Thorbahn launched his team-leading third homerun of the season in game one. (Photo Credit Crystal Ayn Hagberg).

EASTON, Mass. (March 22, 2024) – The Stonehill College baseball team dropped its home opening doubleheader to Northeast Conference (NEC) foe Sacred Heart University Friday afternoon. The Skyhawks lost game one, 6-1, before falling to the Pioneers in game two, 3-1.

GAME ONE: Sacred Heart 6 (9-11, 7-1 NEC), Stonehill 1 (4-10, 0-4 NEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Stonehill starter Ryan Douglas (0-4) came out of the gates strong on the bump in game one, striking out four batters and stranding three runners on base over the first two innings to keep the Pioneers off the board. 

However, sacred Heart would open the scoring in the top of the third inning after freshman Ronan Donohue lined a two-run single up the middle, giving the Pioneers a 2-0 lead. The Skyhawks would respond in the bottom of the fourth inning when redshirt junior Jack Thorbahn launched a moonshot over the right field wall to cut the deficit in half for Stonehill. 

Donohue responded to Thorbahn's blast with a round-tripper in the fifth inning, sending a three-run homerun over the left field fence and extending the Pioneers' advantage to 5-1. Junior Zack Kovalchik capped off the scoring for Sacred Heart after racing home from third on a slowly hit ground ball by junior Alex Ungar to Skyhawks third baseman Trey Ciulla-Hall. 

Following the five-run top of the fifth inning put up by the Pioneers, Stonehill would be held scoreless over the remaining four and a half innings of play, as the Skyhawks would eventually fall in game one by a final score of 6-1. 

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Thorbahn launched his third homerun of the season and first on the diamond at Lou Gorman Field.
• Junior Dylan Zemotel and senior Jack Marshall lead the way for the Skyhawks with two hits each in game one.
• Douglas struck out a season-high four batters over 6.0 innings of work.
• Freshman Zach Brockner didn't allow a hit and struck out five batters in 3.0 innings of relief during his fifth appearance of the season.
• Freshman Gavin Donohue and brother Ronan paved the way for the Pioneers, going a combined 5-for-9 with a homerun and three RBI.
• Senior Jake Babuschak (3-3) picked up his third win of the season after allowing just one run on five hits and two walks over 7.0 innings of work.

GAME TWO: Sacred Heart 3 (10-11, 8-1 NEC), Stonehill 1 (4-11, 0-5 NEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Stonehill got the scoring started right away in game two. After a leadoff single by graduate student Conor Kiely and a sacrifice bunt from redshirt sophomore Sam Parks, Ciulla-Hall stepped into the box and rocketed an RBI double into the right-center field gap, plating Kiely and giving the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead.

Junior starter Zach Gleason would stifle the Pioneer's bats over the opening three innings of action, allowing just one baserunner and setting down four of his first nine batters faced on strikes. Sacred Heart would tie the game up at one apiece in the fourth inning after first-year Peter Link came across to score on an RBI single off the bat of Kovalchik. 

The Skyhawks threatened to regain their lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, getting a runner into scoring position with just one out in the frame. However, Stonehill ground into an inning-ending double play, and the game was tied at 1-1 heading into the eighth. 

A sacrifice fly from freshman Charlie Tallman in the eighth and a solo blast by Link in the ninth would wrap up the scoring for the Pioneers and seal the twin bill sweep over the Skyhawks, 3-1. 

Gleason posted a season-high six strikeouts in game two. (Photo Credit Mike Sudhalter).

INSIDE THE BOX & NOTES

• Ciulla-Hall drove home the lone run for Stonehill in game two with an RBI double in the first inning.
• Marshall improved his hitting streak to three games after going 1-for-3 in game two on the day.
• Freshman reliever Braydon Gray (0-1) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits over 4.0 innings of relief.
• Gleason tallied a season-high six strikeouts in the start, while Gray matched his career-best of four in his fifth career appearance.
• Link recorded his first career homerun and is now tied for Pioneers team-lead with 12 RBI.
• Senior Michael Boyian (3-0) remains undefeated on the mound as he allowed no runs on three hits in 3.0 innings of relief.
• Freshman Joe Trombley posted his first career quality start for Sacred Heart after allowing one earned run over 6.0 innings of work.

UP NEXT

Stonehill (4-11, 0-5 NEC) wraps up its three-game set against Sacred Heart University on Sunday, March 24. First pitch between the Skyhawks and Pioneers is set for 1 p.m., on the diamond at Lou Gorman Field in Easton, Massachusetts. 

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.