Worcester, Mass. (April 23) -- On Senior Day at Rocheleau Field on Friday afternoon, the Assumption College baseball team dropped a 10-2 final to visiting Stonehill College in a Northeast-10 Conference divisional game. Prior to the start of the game, the Assumption baseball program recognized six seniors who were playing in the final home contest of their Greyhound careers.
Stonehill jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third, started by a one-out RBI single up the middle by sophomore Chris Hoyt for the 1-0 edge. Hoyt eventually scored on an RBI triple to left center by Brian Campbell, followed by an RBI single to center by Christian Baglini. The Skyhawks made it a 4-0 margin to lead off the fourth as Dan Fratus launched a towering home run to center for his first homer of the season.
Assumption answered in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to cut the lead down to 4-2 heading into the latter half of the game. Sophomore Michael Panza (West Haven, Conn./Notre Dame) led off the inning with a single to center, followed by a walk by junior Billy Johnson (Auburn, Mass./Notre Dame). Junior Greg O'Donnell (Northbridge, Mass./Northbridge) picked up the big hit of the inning as he roped an RBI double to left field to score Panza and Johnson before eventually getting caught in a rundown between second and third.
Stonehill put the game out of reach with six runs in the top of eighth, powered by a grand slam to right by Billy Karalis with two outs. Catcher Eric Schneider posted an RBI triple to left center in the frame and later scored on a wild pitch as the Skyhawks came away with the 10-2 win.
Sophomore Kevin O'Connor (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) went six innings in the loss to drop to 3-2 as he scattered nine hits with four runs allowed and three strikeouts. Zach Soulier was solid for the Skyhawks as he went seven and allowed just four hits and two runs to improve to 7-2 on the season.
O'Donnell led the Hounds offense with two hits and two RBI, while four Skyhawks ended the game with multiple hits.
With the loss, Assumption drops to 14-18 overall and 5-9 in divisional play, while Stonehill improves to 24-15 overall and 9-5 in the division.
Assumption is back in action on Saturday, April 26th as the Hounds travel to Saint Anselm College for a divisional doubleheader beginning at Noon in Manchester, N.H.
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