Sophomore Alison Sumski went 3-for-7 with two RBI in Stonehill's two wins over Assumption today.

Skyhawks win with strong pitching in game one, before piling up 15 hits in game two triumph

EASTON, Mass. (April 2, 2014) – Stonehill College opened the home portion of its schedule today with a pair of victories over Assumption College in Northeast-10 Northeast Division softball action at Fr. Gartland Field. Stonehill won the opener, 2-0, before erasing a five-run deficit to take game two by a 7-6 final.

Freshman Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) led the Skyhawk offense with a 3-for-6 effort at the plate, including two solo home runs and a walk. Sophomore Alison Sumski (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) went 3-for-7 with two RBI and a run, and classmate Cayleigh McCarthy (Norfolk, Mass./King Phillip) launched a pair of home runs in Stonehill's game two comeback victory.

Sophomore Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) earned the win in game one, as she went the distance and allowed just four hits, while freshman Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's) picked up the win in game two after coming on in relief of starter Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) and holding Assumption to two runs on four hits over five innings of work.

Assumption was led offensively by senior outfielder Nikki Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) and freshman second baseman Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H./Bedford). Boris went 4-for-7 at the dish with a home run and three RBI, while Abad was 3-for-7 with two runs.

Stonehill and Assumption combined for just seven hits in a low-scoring game one, but two of Stonehill's hits were home runs off the bat of Squeri. Abad went 2-for-3 to lead the Greyhounds, while Boris and junior first baseman Ashley Impagliazzo (Glocester, R.I./LaSalle Academy) picked up one hit each.

Senior pitcher Jenn Lattal (Windsor, Conn./Windsor) took the loss for Assumption despite posting a solid outing in which she went six innings, giving up just three hits and two runs while striking out five and walking three.

Squeri

After stranding three runners in scoring position in the first three frames, Stonehill finally pushed a run across in the bottom of the fourth. With one out in the inning, Squeri hit her second home run of the season over the left field fence to stake the Skyhawks to a 1-0 lead. Two innings later, Squeri doubled Stonehill's advantage with her second long ball of the day, a two-out solo shot to center.

Assumption had its best opportunity to score in the seventh inning, but the Greyhounds were unable to get a hit with runners in scoring position. With one out in the frame, Abad singled down the right field line, and two batters later she advanced to second on a passed ball. After Impagliazzo singled to put runners on first and third with two outs, Boris grounded out to end the contest.

While game one was a pitcher's duel between Ruonavaara and Lattal, the second game of the day proved to be just the opposite. Stonehill racked up 15 hits and scored seven times, while Assumption totaled six runs on ten hits.

Senior third baseman Jocelynne Morrell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) went 3-for-4 with one RBI and a run, and McCarthy blasted a pair of solo shots to lead the Skyhawks. Sumski went 2-for-4 with two RBI, while senior first baseman Lindsay McKillop (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) and classmate Brianna Gunter (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) each picked up two hits and one RBI.

Ropiak started the game in the circle for Stonehill, but lasted just two innings and gave up four runs on six hits before being replaced by Carbone.

Sophomore Megan Ruonavaara earned the win in game one with her complete game shutout effort.

Boris paced the Greyhounds with a 3-for-4 effort, including a home run and three RBI, while Impagliazzo added two hits and a walk. Freshman Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I./Tolman) also added a pair of hits for Assumption.

Freshman Courtney Oliva (Vernon, Conn./Vernon) took the loss for the Greyhounds after giving up three runs on seven hits in 2.2 innings of work, after classmate Jurnee Serating-Ware (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) started the game and allowed four runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings.

Assumption built up a 6-1 lead by scoring in each of the first four frames, including twice in the second and twice in the fourth. Trailing by five runs in the bottom of the fourth, Stonehill mounted a comeback by scoring three times in the inning.

McCarthy led off the frame with her second homer of the day, a solo shot to left field. After Carbone grounded out, Gunter singled and sophomore Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Conn./Coginchaug) followed with a double, putting runners on second and third and in the process ending Ware's outing. Sumski came up next and drove in a pair of runs with a single to right center, cutting Assumption's lead to 6-4.

Stonehill added another run the following inning on an RBI single by Gunter, before taking the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Sumski led off the frame with a double and came around to score on the next play as Morrell singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw home. After Morrell advanced to third on a sacrifice, McKillop drove in the go-ahead run with a single up the middle. Carbone retired the Greyhounds in order in the top of the seventh, as Stonehill completed the doubleheader sweep.

 Stonehill (7-11, 2-2 NE-10) will be right back in action tomorrow, as the Skyhawks are set to travel to Bentley University for a pair of contests beginning at 3 p.m. Stonehill will then return home to host Le Moyne College in a doubleheader on Saturday, and The College of Saint Rose for another twinbill on Sunday. Assumption (7-9, 1-3 NE-10) will be on the road again tomorrow, as the Greyhounds are scheduled to play a pair of games at Merrimack College.

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