Hartman blasts third-homerun of the season

Ricker tallied one of five hits for the Skyhawks

EASTON Mass. (April 24, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team fought back in the bottom of the fifth with three runs, but Bentley University score three in the sixth for a 5-3 victory over the Skyhawks Tuesday afternoon at Fr. Gartland Field in Northeast-10 Conference divisional play.

For the Skyhawks, Julia Hartman (Salisbury, Massachusetts/Triton Regional) led the team at the plate batting 2-for-3 with one run scored, one RBI, and her third-homerun of the season, fourth career. Taylor Whaley (South Portland, Maine/Catherine McAuley) tallied the other RBI for the day, while Hannah Ricker (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough), Michelle Theilgard (North Branford, Connecticut/Mercy), and Maille Bennett (Hopkinton, Massachusetts/Hopkinton) each tallied one hit to total five for Stonehill.

Bentley's Lauren Calabrese retired nine-straight batters, as the Falcons were able to see its first two hits in the second inning. At the top of the fourth with two outs, Noa Rivera singled to shortstop with a hard grounder and Juliana Romeo followed that up with a two-run shot to center field that cleared the fence for a 2-0 lead. The Falcons saw Stephanie McQuaid and Allen single after the bases clearing hit, but Jennifer Mayette (Scotia, New York/Scotia-Glenville) retired Jordan Ballantyne with her sixth groundout of the game.

Stonehill saw its first hit of the game in the bottom of the fourth from Ricker, but she was stranded on first after Calabrese retired another three batters. The Skyhawks picked up its first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth with a one-out solo homerun from Hartman to center field for her fourth-career shot. With runners on second and third, the Skyhawks tied up the game as Elizabeth Cronin (Holliston, Massachusetts/Holliston) was sent home on a wild pitch from third, 2-2, and Bennett advanced to third. Bennett used her speed to squeeze home, as Whaley grounded out to shortstop for the first lead of the game, 3-2.

Bennett went 1-for-3 with a run scored

Bentley continued the offensive attack in the top of the sixth, as Romeo connected on a one out single up the middle. The bases quickly got loaded after another single and a walk for the Falcons. Ballantyne reached on a fielder's choice which brought home Romeo, but she was thrown out at home by the third baseman for the second out and then as the play continued, the throw from home to third didn't make it and McQuaid rounded third and crossed the dish for another tied ball game, 3-3. With Stacey Korotsky up at the plate and runners still in scoring position, she drove the ball out to left center, bringing home Ballantyne and Allen for two more runs and a 5-3 lead.

Skyhawks were able to tally one hit in each of the sixth and seventh innings, as the Falcons recorded one more in the top of the seventh. But, Stonehill was unable to bring home any more runs as Bentley took the series, 2-1, with a 5-3 victory.

Stonehill (8-27, 7-18 NE10) will travel to Worcester, Massachusetts to face Assumption College in their final game of the three-game series where it is tied 1-1, first pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

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.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter and Facebook. Fans can also download the Stonehill Skyhawks "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.