Softball Splits Twin Bill with New Haven in Conference Opener

Skyhawks take first NE10 victory of the season in doubleheader

WEST HAVEN, Conn. (March 24, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team split its opening Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader with the University of New Haven (8-9, 1-1 NE10) with scores of 3-2, in eight innings, and 4-3, at the UNH Softball Field Saturday afternoon.


Theilgard went 4-for-7 on the day scoring three runs, recording one RBI and registering her second double of the season

Game 1: Stonehill 2 – New Haven 3 (8 innings)

For the Skyhawks, Caroline Casey (East Moriches, New York/Center Moriches) went 1-for-4 at the plate and Sophie Perez (Bridgewater, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham Regional) went 1-for-3, each recording a RBI. Freshman Michelle Theilgard (North Branford, Connecticut/Mercy) recorded her third-straight game tallying a hit, as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Classmate Genna Hartman (East Granby, Connecticut/East Granby) threw her third-complete game on the mound giving up three earned runs and striking out two batters.

With two outs in the top of the first, Stonehill drove in Hannah Ricker (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) from second base from Casey's single to center field putting the Skyhawks up 1-0. The Chargers halted the Skyhawks, stranding two on base after Theilgard advanced Casey on a single but Perez reached on a fielder's choice getting Casey out at third. Hartman retired the bottom of the frame with two pop ups and one ground out.

New Haven was able to get their bats going in the bottom of the second, but Hartman ended the inning with a fly out to right field leaving two Chargers on base. In the bottom of the third, New Haven was able to tie up the game, 1-1, with a two-out double from Taylor Luzzi to left field that scored Sierra Whitlock from second base.

The Skyhawks quickly got back on top, 2-1, as Theilgard walked with one out and Perez sent a long double to center field bringing in the freshman for Stonehill's second lead of the game at the top of the fourth. The Chargers' Meagan Butts' tallied her fifth and sixth strikeouts of the game to get out of the rally inning.

Stonehill was able to get out of New Haven's offensive fourth inning, as the Chargers tallied three singles, but Hartman got out of the jam, stranding two and ending the inning with a six-four-three double play.

New Haven tied up the game for the second time in the bottom of the seventh on a passed ball, but it wasn't enough as they headed into extra innings. Butts was able to seal the top of the eighth inning with two ground outs and a fly out holding the Skyhawks to no hits. In the bottom of the frame, Luzzi singled to center field to kick off the inning and Jovanna Hillman reached on an error, advancing Luzzi to third. With the bases loaded, the Skyhawks were unable to hold off the Chargers and Luzzi scored the winning run on a passed ball, 3-2.

Game 2: Stonehill 4 – New Haven 3

Stonehill saw Carly Rennie (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford), Theilgard, and Katherine Rayner (Milton, Vermont/Milton) tally two hits each, as they each drove in a run and Julia Hartman (Salisbury, Massachusetts/Tilton Regional) registered the fourth RBI. Senior pitcher Jennifer Mayette (Scotia, New York/Scotia-Glenville) went a complete seven innings for her third complete game of the season, earning her second win of the year.


Casey went 2-for-6 on the split driving in two RBI against the Chargers

Mayette got out of an early bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first inning after she walked two and hit another, getting Hillman to fly out to right field. The Chargers saw the first lead of this game, as Catherine Vaughan sent one out of the park in the lead off spot, 1-0.

The Skyhawks came from behind to score two runs in the top of the fourth and fifth for a three-run lead, 4-1. Rennie kicked off the fourth with a single to left field and Teilhard followed with her own single to left. With two outs, J Hartman sent another ball out to left field, advancing Theilgard to third and Rennie scored from third, 1-1. After J Hartman stole second, Rayner brought in Theilgard on a single down the left field line for a 2-1 lead.

In the top of the fifth and with two outs, Rennie connected for her second single and Theilgard drove her in with a double to center field extending the lead to two, 3-1. Casey also found the left field grass, getting Theilgard to score from second, 4-1.

The Chargers would not give up, but they were only able to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth with two outs and a runner on second. Vaughan tripled to right field, finding a gap, and advancing home on a throwing error, while also tallying an RBI, cutting the deficit to one, 4-3. Both teams were only able to tally one hit a piece in two innings, as the Skyhawks won their second game of the season, 4-3, with an 8-7 hit advantage.

Stonehill (2-10, 1-1 NE10) returns to action tomorrow, Sunday, March 25, as the Skyhawks battle another NE10 foe in Southern Connecticut State University at Pelz Field in New Haven, Connecticut.  

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