Fitzgerald’s Two-Run Shot Highlights Pioneers Effort

Saturday, April 18

Fairfield, CT

1 p.m.

Sacred Heart

12-22, 9-8

Merrimack

15-21, 9-9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Merrimack	0	0	0	1	0	6	0	0	0	7	8	0
Sacred Heart	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1

Fitzgerald’s Two-Run Shot Highlights Pioneers Effort

4/18/2026 6:52:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Fairfield, Conn. – Sacred Heart jumped out early behind a two-run home run, but a big inning from Merrimack proved the difference in the final result.

By: Julia Groff

Fairfield, Conn. – Sacred Heart jumped out early behind a two-run home run, but a big inning from Merrimack proved the difference in the final result.

Records
Sacred Heart | 12-22 (9-8 MAAC)
Merrimack | 15-21 (9-9 MAAC)

Top Performers
JW Fitzgerald: 1-5, R, 2 RBI, HR
Ronan Donohue: 1-2, 2 SB
Will Rudolph: 1-4
Gavin Donohue: 2-4, double
Chuck Tallman: 2-3
Kyle Cincinnati: 1-3, R

Jake Friel: 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
Mitch Hawkins: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (4 ER), 2 BB, 2 SO
Jase Schueller: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO

How It Happened
Sacred Heart got a strong start on the mound from Jake Friel, who came out sharp and struck out the first two batters of the game.

The Pioneers broke through in the third when Kyle Cincinnati singled to right field, setting the stage for JW Fitzgerald, who launched a two-run home run to give Sacred Heart an early 2–0 lead.

Merrimack answered in the fourth with a run, but Mitch Hawkins limited the damage and ended the inning with a strikeout. He continued to keep things in check into the fifth, adding another strikeout to his outing.

The game shifted in the sixth as Merrimack put together a big inning, scoring six runs to take control. Despite the setback, Sacred Heart continued to battle, and Jase Schueller closed things out on the mound in the ninth with two strikeouts.

Up Next
The Pioneers return to Veterans Park for a midweek against Yale on Wednesday, April 22, for a 3 p.m. first pitch.