FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2015
RINDGE, N.H. - Stonehill's Eddie Bowler drove in three runs to lead the Skyhawks to a 5-2 win over Dowling during the opening day of the 2015 NCAA East Regional, which is being hosted by Franklin Pierce.
#2 Stonehill 5, #5 Dowling 2
RINDGE, N.H. – Sophomore first baseman Eddie Bowler went 2-for-3 with a two-run single and a solo home run on Thursday afternoon at Dr. Arthur and Pappas Field, as second-seeded Stonehill picked up a 5-2 win over fifth-seeded Dowling on the first day of the NCAA Championship East Regional, hosted by Franklin Pierce.
Junior left fielder Michael Rizzitello had a pair of hits in defeat for Dowling.
With the win, Stonehill improves to 34-13-1 and will play at 7 p.m. against Wilmington (Del.).
With the loss, Dowling falls to 27-16 and will face elimination at 11 a.m. Friday against Franklin Pierce, which was defeated earlier on Thursday by St. Thomas Aquinas, 3-0.
Stonehill jumped to the lead early with three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.
With one out, senior second baseman Christian Baglini doubled down the left-field line before a walk to junior left fielderBrian Campbell and a hit-by-pitch of senior catcher Eric Schneider loaded the bases.
Junior designated hitter Brian Hocking then drew another walk to force home a run and Bowler lashed a two-run single into right field.
Bowler later reclaimed a three-run lead for Stonehill with a solo home run just beyond the fence down the right-field line, his first of the season, leading off the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman right-hander Michael Young took the ball for Stonehill and threw 98 pitches (66 strikes) over 7.1 innings. He allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits, walked two and struck out four to pick up the win (5-2).
#6 St. Thomas Aquinas 3, #1 Franklin Pierce 0
RINDGE, N.H. – St. Thomas Aquinas junior right-hander Matt Kostalos spun a six-hit shutout and struck out eight on Thursday, while freshman right fielder Giovanni Dingcong and junior catcher Richard Cesca Jr. each had RBI singles as part of a three-run third, as the No. 1/3 nationally ranked, top seed and host Franklin Pierce suffered its first loss since March 25, 3-0, at the hands of sixth-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas on the first day of the NCAA Championship East Regional.
Junior center fielder Maxx Sheehan went 2-for-3 in defeat for the Ravens, who were shutout for the first time all season.
With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 46-3, has its program-record winning streak snapped at 27 games and will face elimination at 11 a.m. Friday against Dowling at 3 p.m. With the win, St. Thomas Aquinas improves to 23-17-1 and will play at 3 p.m. against Southern New Hampshire.
#4 Wilmington 3, #3 Southern New Hampshire 2
RINDGE, N.H. – Senior Jamie Treml won what became quite a head-to-head pitching battle against senior Cole Warren as the fourth-seeded Wilmington University Wildcats defeated the third-seeded Southern New Hampshire University Penmen by a final score of 3-2 at Dr. Arthur Martha and Pappas Field on the campus of Franklin Pierce University on Thursday night.
With the win, Wilmington improves to 34-12, while Southern New Hampshire falls to 30-13. Wilmington will now play tomorrow night at 7 p.m. against second-seeded Stonehill, while Southern New Hampshire will now play at 3 p.m. against St. Thomas Aquinas and face elimination.
Although it looked all the game would need was a two-run home run in the top of the first by Manny Cruz to give Southern New Hampshire a 2-0 lead, Wilmington refused to give up, despite Warren's dominance on the mound.
Warren didn't budge through the first five innings and did not give up a hit until a single in the top of the sixth broke up his row of goose eggs across the scoreboard. Treml was just as good besides his one mistake, only scattering five hits along his tenure on the mound.
The wheels would come off on Warren in the top of the eighth, as Wilmington would string together baserunners and capitalize on Warren's lost control. A double, sacrifice fly, and passed ball mixed with all the walks would aid Wilmington in their pursuit of victory.
Information for this release provided by the Franklin Pierce Athletics Communications staff.
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