Stonehill Falls To Tiffin And Minot State

Skyhawks rack up seven errors in two losses

CLERMONT, Fla. (March 14, 2014) – The Stonehill College softball team dropped both of its contests today at the Dot Richardson Spring Games held at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. Stonehill lost the opener to Tiffin (Ohio) University, 5-2, before falling to Minot State (N.D.) University, 5-3.

Tiffin 5, Stonehill 2 

Senior Lindsay McKillop had three hits and one RBI in two games today.

Stonehill's offense was held in check in the first game with the exception of a two-run fifth inning. Sophomore Alison Sumski (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) went 1-for-3 with two RBI, while senior Lindsay McKillop (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow), sophomores Megan Staudle (New Windsor, N.Y./Cornwall Central) and Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) and freshmen Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's) each recorded one hit.

Ruonavaara took the loss after starting the game in the circle for Stonehill and going all six innings, while allowing five runs (three earned) on ten hits to go with two strikeouts.

Tiffin was led offensively by senior Caitlin Houk (Heath, Ohio/Lakewood), who went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Junior Madison Yanek (North Lima, Ohio/California Pa.) and sophomore Jena King (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) also went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Yanek added one RBI.

Sophomore Kelsey Yaratch (Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky Perkins) earned the win for the Dragons, as she lasted five innings and gave up two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking two. Yanek picked up the save after entering in the fifth inning and not allowing a single baserunner.

Tiffin jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning after Yanek reached on an error and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by junior Tamara Link (Petaluma, Calif./Odessa College). The Dragons added two more the following inning on a sacrifice fly by Houk and an RBI double by Yanek to go up 3-0 after three frames.

Stonehill responded with two runs in the fifth inning, as Sumski's two-run double drove home Ruonavaara and freshman Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, N.J./New Providence), but Tiffin got both runs back in the sixth inning. Yanek closed the door on any comeback attempt, as the junior retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Minot State 5, Stonehill 3

For the second consecutive contest, Stonehill was held to just five hits. McKillop led the way with a 2-for-3 effort and one RBI, while Carbone added a hit and two RBI. Ruonavaara and senior Jocelynne Morrell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) each recorded hits as well for the Skyhawks.

Sophomore Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Conn./Coginchaug) took the loss after giving up eight hits and five runs, although none of the runs were earned. Esposito also struck out five and walked two in her complete game effort.

Minot freshman Jordan Grant (Adelnato, Calif./Silverado) led the Beaver offense with a 3-for-4 performance from the leadoff spot, while senior Jen Dixon (Brandon, Manitoba/Vincent Massey) went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run. Juniors Melissa Bell (Belgrade, Mont./Belgrade) and Ali Cygan (Bozeman, Mont./Belgrade) and freshman Rachel Burdette (Temecula, Calif./Temecula) added one hit each for Minot. Dixon also earned the win after pitching a complete game and allowing three runs on five hits to go with five strikeouts and two walks.

The Beavers utilized two hits, two errors, and a walk to put three runs on the board in the first inning. Grant led off with a single and stole second, and two batters later Dixon singled to put runners on the corners with one out. After an error loaded the bases, Burdette drove in the game's first run by drawing a walk, and another error on the next play plated two more runs.

Minot went up 4-0 in the third inning, and added another run in the top of the sixth before Stonehill answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. With two down and one runner on base, McKillop singled to score Stonehill's first run. Carbone followed with a two-run single to cut Minot's lead to 5-3, but Ruonavaara struck out to end the inning. The Skyhawks then went down in order in the seventh inning, as Dixon induced a line out and a pair of ground outs to end the game.

Stonehill (4-6, 0-0 NE-10) will wrap up its 12-game trip in Florida at the Dot Richardson Spring Games tomorrow with a pair of contests against Molloy College starting at 9 a.m. Tiffin (10-5, 0-0 GLIAC) will be off until Saturday, March 22nd when the Dragons head to Northwood University for a twinbill, while Minot State (5-5, 0-0 NSIC) is set to take on Assumption College tomorrow morning and Ursuline College tomorrow at noon.

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