Senior Alison Sumski led the Skyhawks at the plate with a 4-for-7 effort with a homerun, three RBI and a run.

Skyhawks top Penmen in game one, 5-1, before dropping game two in extra innings, 6-5

EASTON, Mass.  (April 16, 2016) – The Stonehill College softball team split a pair of Northeast-10 Conference games against Southern New Hampshire University today at Gartland Field. The Skyhawks won the first game 5-1 behind a complete game by senior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough), before dropping game two in extra innings, 6-5.

Senior Alison Sumski (Amherst, New Hampshire/Souhegan) led Stonehill at the plate, finishing 4-for-7 with a homerun, three RBI and a run. Classmate Megan Staudle (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) went 2-for-6 with three RBI and two runs, while junior Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/St. Anthony's) connected on a homerun and stole a base. Senior Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Connecticut/Coginchaug) also posted a multi-hit effort, going 3-for-6 with two runs and a stolen base.

Senior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) got the start for Stonehill in the opener and pitched a complete game, allowing just one run, while striking out four batters. Classmate Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Connecticut/Rocky Hill) took the ball in game two, but was chased in the first inning and was relieved by junior Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, New Jersey, New Providence), who pitched 2.1 innings while allowing one run.

For Southern New Hampshire, senior Mo Hannon (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) led the Penmen with a 5-for-9 effort at the plate, including a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Freshman Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) finished 3-for-6, while junior Erin Morrissey (Commack, New York/Commack) recorded a pair of hits with two RBI.

Stonehill 5, Southern New Hampshire 1

Southern New Hampshire cut the lead in half in the top of the third as Hannon hit a one out single through the left side of the infield and was moved over to second on a sacrifice bunt. Senior Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, New Hampshire/Londonderry) then hit a single to right center field to score Hannon from second base.

Stonehill re-upped its lead to two runs as Jordan singled, laying down a bunt down the first base line to score Esposito from third base. The Skyhawks pushed two more runs across the plate in the fourth to make the score 5-1, when senior Emily Padilla (Wappingers Falls, New York/Roy C. Ketcham) reached base on a fielding error by the first baseman and Esposito singled to left field. Staudle then delivered a huge two RBI double to left center field to cap the scoring in the game.

Senior Sarah Ropiak pitched a complete game to propel the Skyhawks to a game one victory.

Southern New Hampshire 6, Stonehill 5

Southern New Hampshire opened up a 4-0 lead in the first inning, chasing Ruonavaara out of the circle and bringing in Squeri. Stonehill responded in the bottom of the first as Staudle singled and Carbone hammered a homerun over the left center field fence to make the score 4-2. Sumski followed up with a solo-shot of her own to go back-to-back with Carbone and make the score 4-3 after one inning.

Stonehill momentarily took the lead in the second, when junior Jacklyn Oleksak (Massapequa, New York/Plainedge) walked to lead off the inning and classmate Taylor Lester (East Northport, New York/St. Anthony's) roped a single to right center field. Padilla then dropped down a bunt to move the runners over but the catcher missed her target and all the runners were safe as pinch runner Olivia Peterson (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy) crossed home plate. Staudle followed with a bunt of her own that brought Lester home from third to give the Skyhawks a 5-4 lead.

Southern New Hampshire tied the game at five in the top of third inning as Hannan singled up the middle for an RBI. Neither team would cross the plate until the top of the eighth inning when the Penmen used three hits to score the games decisive run. Stonehill tried to answer with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning, as Oleksak hit a one-out single to center field and stole second base to put a runner in scoring position, but the Skyhawks were unable to bring her home as they settled for a doubleheader split with Southern New Hampshire.

Stonehill (18-15, 14-7 NE-10) returns to Gartland field tomorrow for a doubleheader as they wrap up the weekend three game series with Southern New Hampshire (20-10, 12-4 NE-10), before playing host to Bentley University in game two.

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