Bennett tallies one of Stonehill four hits in the second game

Azzato tallies her first-career homerun

COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 21, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team fell twice to Saint Michael's College on Saturday, April 21 in Northeast-10 Conference play with scores of 6-4 and 8-0 in six innings.

GAME 1: Stonehill 4 - Saint Michael's 6

Carly Rennie (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) ripped her fifth-double of the season and seventh-career double down the left field line with one out bringing home Hannah Ricker (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) after she singled in the lead off spot for an early 1-0 lead.

Both teams were silenced in the second and third innings, as neither team saw a run cross home, but the Skyhawks put pressure on the Purple Knights in the third as Danielle Brown loaded the bases with a walk. Brown was able to keep Stonehill from adding to their lead with back-to-back outs, including her fifth strikeout of the game.

Saint Michael's bats connected in the bottom of the fourth, coming from behind for their first lead of the game, 3-1. Three singles, including one on two outs, drove in three runs for the Purple Knights and with two runners on, Kazi Walker (Quaker Hill, Connecticut/Waterford) was able to halt the runners to end the offensive attack.

Stonehill was shut down in the top of the fifth with three-straight outs and the Purple Knights capitalized on the momentum, as they drove in three runs on another three hits, extending their lead to five, 6-1.

The Skyhawks were able to score two runs in the top of the sixth, as Walker roped a two-out single to left center to drive in two runs, 6-3. Walker then returned to the mound to retire the Purple Knights in the bottom of the frame with a sacrifice bunt and then a double play where Hayley Craddock flew out to center field and Anna Meusel tried to advance on the tag but was thrown out at third for the third out.

Freshman Gianna Azzato (East Meadow, New York/East Meadow) recorded one of Stonehill's two hits in the bottom of the seventh, but her first-career homerun wasn't enough to continue the rally, as the Skyhawks stranded two on base falling 6-4 in the first game.

GAME 2: Stonehill 0 – Saint Michael's 8 (6 innings)

The Purple Knights scored in four of the six innings played, connecting on 10 hits and capitalizing on five errors, while the Skyhawks registered four hits with no runs across.

Ricker records her fourth-straight game with a hit

After a silent first inning on both sides of the field, Saint Michael's notched the first hit of the game as Craddock singled to right field, but the Skyhawks left two on base ending the inning with a fly out and a ground out.

With a one-two-three top of the second, Saint Michael's put the first run across the plate as Danielle Markowski reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third to get in scoring position for Julia Sevigny's single up the middle, 1-0.

Stonehill saw its first hit of the game in the top of the third from Maille Bennett (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton), but Saint Michael's saw three singles in the bottom of the frame and three errors to add three runs to their already lead, 4-0.

The Skyhawks were able to fend off the Purple Knights offence in the fourth inning, allowing no hits or runs, but Saint Michael's saw Torie Rathwell send a two-run shot over the left center fence in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-0 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the six and bases loaded, Rathwell connected for her third hit of the afternoon and third and fourth RBI with a double to right field ending the game with an 8-0 lead.

Stonehill (8-24, 7-15 NE10) will face Saint Michael's College tomorrow, Sunday, April 22 for the final game of the three-game series in Colchester, Vermont on Doc Jacobs Field, with a first pitch at noon.

With Stonehill's regular season wrapping up in the coming week, the Skyhawks will be hosting a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Strikeout For Cancer game on Friday, April 27 against Saint Anselm College at 3:00 p.m. on Fr. Gartland Field. The Skyhawks will be collecting donations at the field on gameday and will continue to collect funds on their GoFundMe page. All proceeds will go directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Foundation. At the game, the Skyhawks will be honoring all those who have battled or are currently battling all types of cancer. Bracelets and t-shirts will be on site at the game for purchase.

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