Yorke’s Ninth-Inning Homer Lifts Pioneers Past Quinnipiac, 9–8

Friday, March 13

Hamden, CT

3 p.m.

Sacred Heart

3-11, 2-2

Quinnipiac

4-10, 0-1

Sacred Heart

Quinnipiac

Yorke’s Ninth-Inning Homer Lifts Pioneers Past Quinnipiac, 9–8

3/14/2026 6:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Sacred Heart jumped out to an early lead and held off a late Quinnipiac rally to secure a 9–8 victory.

By: Julia Groff

Hamden, Conn. – Sacred Heart jumped out to an early lead and held off a late Quinnipiac rally to secure a 9–8 victory.

Records
Sacred Heart | 3-11 (2-2 MAAC)
Quinnipiac | 4-10 (0-1 MAAC)

Top Performers
Ronan Donohue: 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, double, HR, SB
Will Cook: 2-4, 2 R, RBI, double
Peter Link: 3-4, 4 RBI, double
Dave Yorke: 2-3, R, RBI, HR

Bryan Matuschat: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 3 SO
Graham Willerer: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 SO

How It Happened
The Pioneers struck first in the top of the first inning when Ronan Donohue reached on a hit-by-pitch and later scored on a single from Will Cook. Will Rudolph followed with a walk and Gavin Donohue was also hit by a pitch to load the bases before Peter Link singled to bring Cook home. Rudolph later scored on a passed ball to give Sacred Heart a 3–0 lead.

Sacred Heart added to its advantage in the second inning as JW Fitzgerald singled and Ronan Donohue followed with a two-run home run to extend the lead to 5–0. On the mound, Bryan Matuschat settled in early, striking out two batters in the second inning and adding another strikeout in the fourth.

The Pioneers broke the game open in the sixth inning when Cook drew a walk and Rudolph followed with a single. Gavin Donohue was walked to load the bases before Link delivered a bases-clearing double, scoring Cook, Rudolph, and Donohue to make it 8–0.

Quinnipiac responded with two runs in the sixth, five in the seventh, and one in the eighth to tie the game at 8–8 heading into the ninth.

Sacred Heart quickly regained the lead in the top of the ninth when Dave Yorke launched a first-pitch home run to put the Pioneers ahead 9–8. In the bottom half, Graham Willerer shut the door, striking out two batters, including the game-ending strikeout, to secure the win.