Junior Michelle Carbone earned the win in game two only allowing two hits, while going a combined 4-for-8 at the plate. |
Skyhawks combine for 24 hits and 18 runs in pair of wins
ALBANY, N.Y. (March 18, 2016) – The Stonehill College softball team won a pair of games at The College of Saint Rose today in Northeast-10 Conference action at Cathy Haker Field. The Skyhawks overpowered the Golden Knights in game one 7-2, before erupting for 11 runs in the sixth inning to overcome a two run deficit, winning game two, 11-2.
Stonehill 7, Saint Rose 2
Stonehill shut-out Saint Rose in the opening game as senior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) earned her second win of the season on the mound. The senior threw a complete game, while allowing two runs on three hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Junior Lianna Jordan (Staten Island, New York/St. Joseph By the Sea) led the team at the plate, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, a run and three RBI. Senior Alison Sumski (Amherst, New Hampshire/Souhegan) had a great day at the plate as well, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Seniors Emily Padilla (Wappingers Falls, New York/ Roy C. Ketcham), Megan Staudle (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) and junior Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/St. Anthony's) contributed with a pair of hits.
Senior Nicole Wickham (Greenville, New York/Greenville) took the loss and pitched all seven innings for Saint Rose, giving up seven runs (six earned) on 15 hits, a walk and two strikeouts.
Junior Carly Wood (Hamilton, New Jersey/Steinert) registered the only multi-hit game for the Golden Knights, going 2-for-3 with a double, walk and a run. Senior Tina Karaqi (Thornwood, New York/Westlake) reached base safely on three occasions, recording a hit and two walks with a RBI.
Stonehill opened the scoring in the first inning, as senior Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Connecticut/Coginchaug) led off reaching base on an error. Jordan then hit a one out double to left field, advancing Esposito to third base and placing two runners in scoring position. Esposito then scored on a passed ball to give the Skyhawks an early 1-0 lead.
Stonehill plated three more runs in the third, pushing their lead to 4-0. Padilla singled to left field to start the inning off and Esposito followed that up with a single through the left side of the infield. After junior Taylor Lester (East Northport, New York/St. Anthony's) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, Jordan delivered a two RBI single to left field. The four run lead was more than enough for Ropiak who cruised through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth and eventually surrendering two runs in the seventh, ending her bid for a shut-out.
Stonehill 11, Saint Rose 2
Senior Lauren Esposito hit a big three run double in game two, helping the Skyhawks earn the come from behind win. |
Carbone went all six innings for the Skyhawks, allowing two runs on two hits, four walks and four strikeouts. With the win, Carbone moves to 2-1 on the year with a 1.68 ERA. Carbone also contributed at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.
Esposito continued her terrific year, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, three RBI and a run, while Jordan went 2-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored and Sumski hit a three-run homerun.
Saint Rose jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and maintained the lead throughout the majority of the game. Carbone settled down after the first, only allowing one hit the rest of the game.
Freshman Roma Mazzariello (Valatie, New York/Ichabod Crane) stifled the Stonehill offense from the mound through the first five innings as Saint Rose led 2-0. That all changed in the top of the sixth inning as the Skhawks erupted for 11 runs.
Lester started the inning with a single up the middle and was followed by Jordan reaching on a fielder's choice. With one out, Carbone doubled to score Jordan and Sumski moved her over to third with a groundout to the first baseman. Junior Jacklyn Oleksak (Massapequa, New York/Plainedge) then singled up the middle to tie the game at two. The Skyhawks would load the bases with two outs and Esposito came through with a bases clearing double to open the floodgates. Sumski capped off the inning with a three-run homerun, setting the score at 11-2. Saint Rose went down quietly in the bottom half of the sixth inning, ending the game due to the eight run mercy rule.
Stonehill (6-9-1, 2-1-1 NE-10) returns to action Thursday, March 24th as the Skyhawks travel to Assumption College to take on the Greyhounds at 1:00 p.m. This weekend series against Le Moyne College and LIU Post has been postponed due to weather. Saint Rose (4-10, 0-2 NE-10) is set for a NE-10 clash against Bentley University tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.
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