Theilgard scores go-ahead runs in first game, scores game-winning run in second
Perez tallied her third homerun of the season and seventh of her career |
EASTON, Massachusetts (April 7, 2019) – The Stonehill College softball team won its third-straight game with a doubleheader Northeast-10 Conference cross divisional sweep against American International College with scores of 6-3 and 1-0 on Sunday afternoon on Fr. Gartland Field.
With the sweep, Stonehill is now 7-16 overall and 4-9 in Conference play, while American International falls to 7-19 overall and 4-9 in NE10 play.
Game 1: Stonehill 6 – American International 3
The Yellow Jackets saw a one-out double by Sarah Baganz and Victoria Andrade followed that up with a single to left center to drive home Baganz from second for a 1-0 advantage. Stonehill threatened in the bottom of the first with two hits and a hit by pitch but the American International got out of the inning with a ground out.
The Skyhawks connected for back-to-back singles in the bottom of the second with one out from Julia Perrone and Michelle Theilgard to take a 2-1 lead. In the lead-off spot in the bottom of the third, Sophie Perez sent out her third homerun of the season to left center extending the lead to two, 3-1.
In the fourth, Kacie Allison doubled down the left field line scoring Makaylah Mutz who singled to lead off the inning, cutting the deficit to one, 3-2. Olivia Gonzalez grounded into a double play with no outs scoring the tying run, 3-3.
In the bottom of the frame, Carly Rennie led off with a single up the middle and Katherine Rayner reached on a sacrifice bunt to put runners on first and second for Theilgard. The sophomore lifted her second homerun of the season over the left center fence for the go-ahead runs and a three-run lead, 6-3. Rayner fended off the Yellow Jackets in the remaining innings striking out seven of the nine batters for the win.
Game 2: Stonehill 1 – American International 0
In the bottom of the first inning, Theilgard led off the inning with her sixth double of the season down the left field line and she was moved over to third on Genna Hartman's sacrifice bunt. Perez was hit by a pitch with two outs putting runners on first and third for Gianna Azzato. Perez drew the throw down to second as she stole second and Theilgard stole home on the play for a 1-0 lead. Stonehill was retired with a strikeout to end the inning.
Rayner threw her 10th complete game, posting her third-straight win and seventh victory on the mound |
Stonehill tried to squeeze another run across in the bottom of the second with one out and runners in scoring position on second and third. The Yellow Jackets caught Caroline Casey running home for the second out and retired the side with a strike out.
The Yellow Jackets tallied a hit in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, as they threatened in the sixth with two outs seeing Mutz reach on an error and Allison singled to left center putting runners on first and third. Rayner retired the side with a foul out to the third base side.
Rayner recorded her seventh win of the season as she struck out five and allowed only four hits in the seven innings pitched for her 10th complete game of the season.
Stonehill hosts Assumption College for a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 9, with the first game counting as the third game of the three-game series and the second as a non-conference matchup with a first pitch scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Fr. Gartland Field.
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