After allowing the first two batters of the game to score, Jake Stearns settled down to toss six scoreless innings as 10th-ranked Plymouth North upset the No. 2 Marshfield Rams, 3-2, in Atlantic Coast League play Monday in Plymouth.
The win was the third of the season for the 6-foot-1-inch senior southpaw, who scattered six hits, while striking out six and walking five.
“Stearns is just difficult to hit,” said Plymouth North coach Dwayne Follette, of his Stonehill University-bound ace. “He can get wild at times, but tonight he settled in nicely. He throws hard - mid- to high-80s - and has a ton of movement on his fastball.’’
After allowing a leadoff single and walking the next batter, Stearns surrendered a bases-clearing double to Marshfield’s John Ryan that put the Rams (10-1) up, 2-0.
Once Stearns settled in, the momentum swung in the Blue Eagles’ direction and RBI singles from Vinny Tavernelli and Cody Holmes had the score knotted at 2 as the teams entered the sixth inning.
Ryan Moskos led off the sixth with an infield single for the Blue Eagles (7-3) and came around to score the eventual winner on an error.
The win keeps the Blue Eagles’ hopes for a fourth consecutive ACL title alive, as they improved to 3-2 in league play, while the Rams dropped to 5-1.
St. Thomas Aquinas (N.H) 5, Portsmouth (N.H.) 4 - For the first time since 2007, the Portsmouth (N.H.) baseball team lost a game. The Clippers fell to St. Thomas Aquinas of Dover, N.H., ending their national-record winning streak at 89 games. St. Thomas Aquinas (7-0) won in dramatic fashion, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh to shock the Clippers (6-1). The win helped St. Thomas Aquinas avenge losses to the Clippers in the Division 2 state championship two of the past three seasons. The Clippers’ last defeat came in the quarterfinals of the 2007 playoffs when they lost to Hollis Brookline.
St. John’s Prep 5, Xaverian 4 - Junior reliever Dustin Hunt entered in the top of the fifth for St. John’s Prep, and got the Eagles out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam and they hung on for the home win in a Catholic Conference showdown. The righthander pitched 2 1/3 shutout innings in his first relief performance. The sixth-ranked Eagles (10-2, 3-1) led until the top of the fifth inning, when the Hawks rallied to score four runs and pull within one. With two outs and the bases loaded, Hunt struck out the first batter he faced with a series of fastballs. The Eagles stalled after jumping to a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. Junior Brandon Bingel drove in three runs and Anthony Capuano singled in another. up.
Barnstable 2, Sandwich 1 - Pete Liimatainen improved to 3-0, tossing a complete-game four-hitter for the 11th-ranked Red Raiders (8-2).
Lincoln-Sudbury 8, Waltham 2 - Junior Brian Carroll had two hits and drove in two runs in the No. 8 Warriors’ victory.
Lynn Classical 15, Saugus 4 - It was a day of threes for Kyle Devin, who had three hits, three RBIs, and three runs to pace the Rams.
Woburn 6, Reading 0 - Nick Pineau tossed a two-hit shutout to lift the Tanners.
Walpole 5, Norwood 4 - Senior captain Matt Lavenchy’s two-run single won it for the Rebels, who qualified for the state tournament.
Newton South 4, Boston Latin 0 - Senior John Jennings pitched a one-hitter to improve to 4-0 for the undefeated Lions.
Bellingham 1, Norton 0 - Jeff Dunn spun a gem for the Blackhawks (9-1), pitching a one-hitter. The only hit he allowed was to the leadoff batter.
Arlington Catholic 10, Archbishop Williams 7 - Junior Mark Fusco’s bases-loaded triple broke a tie and boosted the Cougars past the Bishops.
Swampscott 12, Salem 2 - Nick Meninno struck out 13 and didn’t allow an earned run in the Big Blue’s win.
Boys’ lacrosse
Medford 15, Malden 8 - Senior attack Dan Bozovic (four goals, four assists) recorded a season-high 8 points for the Mustangs, who improved to 11-2 and clinched the Greater Boston League championship.
Boys’ volleyball
Newton South 3, Cambridge 0 - Peter Haskin had six kills and seven service aces and the Lions (9-3) ended the No. 3 Falcons’ nine-game win streak, 27-25, 25-19, 25-13.
Softball
Hopkinton 17, Westwood 1 - Freshman righthander Alissa Karjel did it all for the Hillers (6-2), tossing a three-hitter with seven strikeouts and adding three hits and five RBIs.
Wakefield 10, Stoneham 8 - Junior Abby DiCredico went 4 for 4 with three RBIs for the Warriors.
Matignon 7, Austin Prep 3 - Senior Lauren Doneski fanned 12 to pitch the Warriors past the Cougars.
Framingham 23, Brookline 3 - Sophomore Alex Gibbons pitched a no-hitter and struck out six for the Flyers, allowing only three unearned runs.
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