Softball Records Pair of Shutouts in Sweep at Franklin Pierce


Senior Sarah Ropiak pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just one hit to earn her 11th win of the season.

Seniors Sarah Ropiak and Megan Ruonavaara combine for 10.1 scoreless innings

EASTON, Mass. (April 19, 2016) – Senior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) pitched a one-hit shutout in the opener and classmate Alison Sumski (Amherst, New Hampshire/Souhegan) did the damage at the plate, finishing 4-for-7 with two homeruns and five RBI as the Stonehill College softball team posted a pair of Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division victories over Franklin Pierce University this afternoon at the Bisaccia Softball Complex. Stonehill defeated Franklin Pierce 10-0 in the opener, before earning a 2-0 victory in game two. 

Sumski led Stonehill at the plate, while senior Megan Staudle (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) finished with a pair of hits, two RBI and a run. Junior Lianna Jordan (Staten Island, New York/St. Joseph By the Sea) went 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI and sophomore Erin Brayden (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) posted a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI and run.

For Franklin Pierce, senior catcher Morgan Cahill (Saratoga Springs, New York/Saratoga Springs) registered the lone multi-hit effort over the two games, finishing 2-for-4 with a walk. Sophomore Cassidy Sorenson (Billerica, Massachusetts/Billerica Memorial) went 1-for-4 with a walk, while senior Erin Wood (Dover, New York/Dover) and sophomore Jaclyn Cortese (Upton, Massachusetts/Nipmuc Regional) each recorded a double.

 

Stonehill 10, Franklin Pierce 0 (six innings)

Ropiak got the start in the opener and posted her third shutout of the season, improving to 11-8 with the victory. The senior held Franklin Pierce to one hit, while striking out six batters and walking none.

Game one was a closely contested game until Stonehill opened the floodgates in the sixth inning. The Skyhawks got on the board in the second as senior Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Connecticut/Rocky Hill) walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second when Brayden reached on an error by the third baseman. After senior Emily Padilla (Wappingers Falls, New York/Roy C. Ketcham) laid down a sacrifice bunt, classmate Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Connecticut/Coginchaug) grounded out to second base, scoring Ruonavaara from third.

Stonehill plated two more runs in the top of the fifth inning when Sumski connected on her eighth homerun of the season, scoring junior Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/ St. Anthony's) to make the lead 3-0. Franklin Pierce recorded its lone hit in the game in the bottom of the fifth with two outs, breaking up Ropiak's bid for a perfect game.

Stonehill erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning, as Staudle got the scoring started when she hit a bases loaded single to left field and advanced to second base on a fielding error by the left fielder, scoring Brayden and Ruonavaara. Jordan then followed with a two RBI double to clear the bases, and Carbone doubled to plate Jordan. Sumski then stepped to the plate and delivered her second homerun of the game and ninth of the season, making the score 10-0. With her big day, Sumski is now tied for second in the NE-10 for homeruns (9) and third in RBI (36).

 

Stonehill 2, Franklin Pierce 0


Senior Alison Sumski connected on two homeruns to go with five RBI to power the Skyhawks.

Ruonavaara took the ball in game two for Stonehill, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings to earn her fifth win of the season, while Carbone came on in relief and earned the save, tossing 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

After four scoreless frames, Stonehill broke the scoreless tie with a run in the fifth. Ruonavaara led off the inning with a double and junior Jacklyn Oleksak (Massapequa, New York/Plainedge) dropped down a sacrifice bunt to move her over to third. Brayden then singled to bring Ruonavaara home.

Stonehill added an insurance run in the in the top of the sixth inning when junior Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) singled to open the inning and Carbone followed up by reaching first on a fielder's choice. Sumski then continued her hot hitting and doubled Carbone home to give the Skyhawks a two run lead.

Franklin Pierce threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Cahill singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Madison Ryan (Dracut, Massachusetts/Dracut) then singled to advance Cahill to third base, but Carbone shut it down, coaxing a pop up to end the game.

Stonehill (22-16, 18-8 NE-10) returns to the diamond tomorrow as they stay at Franklin Pierce (15-21, 10-12) for a single contest to close out the regular season. The game is scheduled to start at noon.

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