Skyhawks end season tallying eight hits in two games

Theilgard tallied her second sacrifice fly and 25th RBI of the season

EASTON, Mass. (April 28, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team concluded its season falling twice to No. 24 Saint Anselm College with scores of 8-1 and 8-0 in six innings Saturday afternoon in Northeast-10 Conference play.

Prior to the games, the Skyhawks recognized its three seniors, including Olivia Peterson (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy), Erin Brayden (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy), and Jennifer Mayette (Scotia, New York/Scotia-Glenville).

GAME 1: Stonehill 1 – Saint Anselm 8

After Saint Anselm put pressure on Stonehill in the top of the first with three runners on base, the Skyhawks responded by putting up the first run of the game. Hannah Ricker (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) and Peterson singled, while Carly Rennie (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) reached on an error to get the bases loaded for Michelle Theilgard (North Branford, Connecticut/Mercy). The freshman sent a long fly ball to left field, and Ricker easily scored for a 1-0 lead. The Hawks were able to get out of the inning retiring back-to-back batters, leaving two runners on base.

On three hits and a two-out rally, Saint Anselm took its first lead of the game, 2-1, in the top of the third. Maggie Murphy and Megan Murrell sat on first and second, while Shannon Colson singled to left field and Jordan O'Connor followed with her own connection driving in a run a piece.

The Hawks scored a run in each of the next two innings, extending its lead to three, 4-1, as the Skyhawks continued to put runners on base, but Saint Anselm halted the offensive attacks limiting the hits to one per inning except for the bottom of the seventh.

Four runs in the top of the sixth capped the score at eight for the Hawks, 8-1, connecting on five hits. With no outs, Saint Anselm put two across the plate as Erin Thompson was part of both runs, recording an RBI single and then stealing second base on a first and third situation to draw the throw and score Murphy from third. Murrell grounded out to third for the first out of the inning, but Thompson's speed led her to adding another run to the board, 7-1. Colson started back up the offense with a single to shortstop beating out the throw and moved over to second on a ground out getting in scoring position for Maddison Leite who drove her home for the eighth run.

Stonehill attempted to rally on two in the bottom of the seventh, but Saint Anselm froze the runners at first and second on a fly out to conclude the first game.

GAME 2: Stonehill 0 – Saint Anselm 8 (6 innings)

Ricker tallied two of Stonehill's eight hits on the day

The Hawks saw an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first, as Murphy and Thompson doubled to left center and with two outs, Murphy slid home on a wild pitch for the first run. With runners on second and third, Murrell sent a long fly ball over the right center fence knocking in three more runs for Saint Anselm, 4-0.

Stonehill recorded one of two hits in the bottom of the frame with Rennie's single into right center but she was stranded as Morgan Perry struck out three of the four batters in the inning.

On a hard hit to center field, the Hawks' McLaughlin singled and advanced to third on the throw, bringing in Leite on a bad fling, extending the lead to five, 5-0, in the top of the third. Both sides were retired in the fourth, and both teams left one runner on base in the fifth, as Saint Anselm brought the bats back out in the top of the sixth.

With one out, Farrell walked, and Bickford clipped a double out to left center in the top of the frame bringing home the sixth run of the game, 6-0. As runners were set on the corners, Murphy stole second to get in scoring position and Thompson drilled a ball to center field bringing home Murphy from third and Bickford put the score at eight, 8-0, with a muffed play after the transfer. Stonehill was quickly retired in the bottom of the sixth with two ground outs and fly out to right field wrapping up the season for the Skyhawks.

Stonehill concluded the season with an 8-31 overall record and a 7-22 mark in NE10 play.

The Skyhawks hosted a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Strikeout For Cancer game on Friday, April 27 against Saint Anselm College on Fr. Gartland Field. The Skyhawks collected donations at the field 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 honored all those who have battled or are currently battling all types of cancer.

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