Sophomore Megan Ruonavaara earned the win in game one, and also hit her second home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field.

Skyhawks outscore Golden Knights 9-1 in doubleheader sweep

EASTON, Mass. (April 6, 2014) – Stonehill College wrapped up a stretch in which it played eight games in five days with a pair of wins today over The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 softball action at Gartland Field. Stonehill finished the week at 7-1, with doubleheader sweeps over Assumption College, Bentley University, and Saint Rose, and a split yesterday against Le Moyne College.

The Skyhawks were led today by a couple of strong pitching performances from sophomore Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) and freshman Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, N.J./New Providence). Ruonavaara improved to 4-5 with the victory in the opener after a complete game shutout effort in which she gave up just four hits and struck out three, while Squeri upped her record to 3-0 after going the distance in game two and allowing one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Ruonavaara also got the job done at the plate, as she went 2-for-6 with a home run and three RBI. Freshman Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's) went 3-for-6 with a home run and two RBI, while sophomore Alison Sumski (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) was 3-for-8 with a double, two runs and one RBI.

Saint Rose was led offensively by sophomore Zoe Dubois (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) and junior Kari Bird (New Rochelle, N.Y./The Ursuline School), who recorded two hits each, while Bird knocked in the Golden Knights' lone run of the afternoon in game two.

Stonehill out-hit Saint Rose 9-4 in the opener, with seven different Skyhawks collecting at least one hit. Sumski and sophomore Megan Staudle (New Windsor, N.Y./Cornwall Central) led the offensive attack with two hits apiece, and Ruonavaara held the Golden Knights scoreless in the circle.

Freshman Renee Vaiano (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) took the loss for Saint Rose after giving up five runs (two earned) on eight hits in five innings of work, while Dubois accounted for two of the Golden Knights' four base hits.

Stonehill grabbed a couple of quick runs in the first inning and never looked back. Sumski led off the frame with a single to right field, before coming around to score on the next play as the throw that was intended to put her out at second base sailed into right field. The Skyhawks scored again later in the inning when senior Jocelynne Morrell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) got caught in a rundown between third base and home but slid in under the catcher's tag.

After a scoreless second and third, Stonehill added two more runs in the fourth. Staudle led off with a single down the left field line, and Ruonavaara came up next and delivered her second home run of the season, a two-run shot over the center field fence that gave the Skyhawks a 4-0 lead. Stonehill scored one more time the following inning on an RBI single by Carbone, and Saint Rose managed just one base runner the rest of the way.

Sophomore Megan Staudle recorded three hits and one RBI today as Stonehill swept Saint Rose.

Stonehill 4, Saint Rose 1

After starting the season at 5-11 before playing a single game at Gartland Field, Stonehill finally got back to the .500 mark with its game two victory over Saint Rose. Squeri earned the win in the circle and also recorded a hit, while Carbone belted her first collegiate home run to power the offense.

Sophomore Nicole Wickham (Greenville, N.Y./Greenville) took the loss for Saint Rose after giving up four runs (three earned) in six innings, and Bird led the Golden Knight offense with two hits and one RBI.

For the second consecutive game, the Skyhawks took a first inning lead. Sumski led off by reaching base on an error, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice by Morrell. Later in the inning, Sumski came around to score on a single up the middle by Ruonavaara, her second RBI hit of the afternoon.

Stonehill did not score in the second, but added single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to go up 4-0. Staudle recorded an RBI single in the third, and Sumski drove in a run with a double in the fourth before Carbone homered to left center in the fifth. After five innings, Stonehill led Saint Rose 4-0.

The Golden Knights finally broke through with their first run of the doubleheader in the top of the sixth inning. Senior Olivia Reeves (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Arlington) walked with one out in the frame before stealing second. After the next batter struck out, Bird drove in Reeves with a two-out single through the left side of the infield. Saint Rose threatened with a pair of singles in the seventh inning, but the Skyhawks held on for a 4-1 victory.

Stonehill (12-12, 7-3 NE-10) will be off tomorrow before returning to action on Tuesday with a doubleheader at Assumption beginning at 3 p.m. Next weekend, the Skyhawks are scheduled to take on Southern New Hampshire University with two games on Saturday and one on Sunday. Saturday's contests will serve as Stonehill's Purple & White Games. Saint Rose (7-12, 3-5 NE-10) will be back in action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Le Moyne.

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