Rayner strikes out 16 total, career high 10 in game one
Rayner struck out 16 total batters in 13.0 innings pitched for her 12th and 13th complete game of her career |
EASTON, Massachusetts (April 13, 2019) – The Stonehill College softball team recorded their fourth shutout of the season with a 9-0 win in game one over Northeast-10 Conference foe Saint Michael's College and clipped the Purple Knights 3-2 in game two for their third-straight victory on Saturday on Fr. Gartland Field.
With the win, Stonehill is now 10-18 overall and 7-10 in NE10 play, while Saint Michael's falls to 2-22 overall and 1-13 in Conference play.
Game 1: Stonehill 9 – Saint Michael's 0 (6 innings)
Junior pitcher Katherine Rayner threw her 12th complete game of her career striking out a career high 10 batters in 6.0 innings while only allowing two hits. Sophomore Genna Hartman went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and her first-career homerun, as junior Caroline Casey went 1-for-1 with two runs scored and two walks. Five other Skyhawks tallied RBI in their second-straight win and fourth shutout of the season.
Rayner retired 11-straight batters through the top of the fourth inning, as Stonehill put five runs on the board across the four innings for a 5-0 lead. The Skyhawks scored their runs off two fielding errors, a sacrifice bunt, and Maille Bennett's first triple of her career.
In the bottom of the sixth, Carly Rennie advanced runners to scoring position with a sacrifice bunt for the first out of the frame. Bennett reached on a fielder's choice and Casey was out on the play at home for the second out. Michelle Theilgard connected for her first hit of the game, sending it to right side for a RBI extending the Skyhawks' lead to six, 6-0. With runners on second and third, Hartman sent out her first-career homerun over the left field fence for a three-run shot to run rule the Purple Knights, 9-0.
Game 2: Stonehill 3 – Saint Michael's 2
Stonehill continued their offensive attack in game two as they saw two hits in the bottom of the first and the Purple Knights' defense got out of a bases loaded jam stranding three Skyhawks.
Hartman went 4-for-7 on the day with two runs scored, five RBI, and her first-career homerun |
In the bottom of the second, Theilgard singled to left field bringing home Rennie who led off the inning with her own single for a 1-0 lead. Saint Michael's responded with a two-run single from Tierney in the top of the fourth to give the Purple Knights their first lead of the day, 2-1. Rayner retired three-straight before Stonehill took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth.
With one out, Hartman singled to center field to bring home two runs for a one-run advantage for the Skyhawks, 3-1. Saint Michael's tallied two hits in the top of the fifth but Rayner retired the side with a fielder's choice to leave two on base and finished the game allowing only one hit for her 10th win of the season.
Stonehill hosts Saint Michael's College for another doubleheader on tomorrow, Sunday, April 14 with a start time of noon to continue the six-game home stand on Fr. Gartland Field. On Friday, April 26 Stonehill will host Franklin Pierce University for a doubleheader for their Strikeout Cancer Game. If you would like to donate click here.
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