Skyhawks post an 11-3 triumph in game one, complete sweep with a 5-1 win in game two

Courtney Marchand went 2-for-3 with one run batted in and two stolen bases in game two for the Skyhawks.

CLERMONT, Fla. (March 10, 2012) – The Stonehill College softball team opened up its 2012 season with a doubleheader sweep versus The College of Saint Rose in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) action on Saturday afternoon at the National Training Center. The Skyhawks earned an 11-3 victory in game one (five innings) and a 5-1 win in game two.

Stonehill 11, Saint Rose 3 (five innings)

Stonehill scored 11 runs on 10 hits highlighted by multiple hit performances from junior Nicole Eisenmann (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater), sophomore Lindsay McKillop (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) and classmate Angela Moskwa (West Suffield, Conn./Suffield).

Senior Samantha Krantz (Hampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton Bays) earned the win on five innings pitched, two runs (both unearned), two hits, one walk and a game-high five strikeouts.

Freshman Lauren Sputo (White Plains, N.Y./White Plains) was dealt the loss on one inning pitched, three hits, three runs (two earned), no walks and one punchout.

The Skyhawks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning punctuated by a two-run double from junior Kelsey Wilcox (Canterbury, Conn./Griswold). Sophomore Christina Swider (Hebron, Conn./RHAM) reached base on a fielding error to lead off the frame. Eisenmann followed with a single and McKillop also notched a base hit coming off of the top of the outfield fence driving home Swider for a 1-0 advantage. Eisenmann was held at second base as a Golden Knights outfielder played the carom off of the fence quickly and back into the infield. Wilcox followed with a two-run double to make it 3-0.

Stonehill added four more runs in the next half inning to put the game away. Moskwa and sophomore Jocelynne Morrell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) tallied back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. After senior Chelsea Stryker (Baldwin, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) reached on a fielding error scoring Moskwa, Swider walked to load the bases. Saint Rose then committed its second fielding miscue of the inning allowing two more runs to score breaking the game open.

The Golden Knights answered with three runs in the top of the third to cut the deficit to 7-2 but Stonehill quickly responded in the bottom half of the fourth with four runs pushing the gap to 11-2.

Eisenmann ended game one at the plate with a 2-for-3 showing and two runs batted in. McKillop posted a similar line to Eisenmann's while Wilcox went 1-for-2 with three RBI's and Moskwa was 2-for-3 with one run batted in.

Stonehill 5, Saint Rose 1

Senior pitcher Katilin Andrews (Hudson, Mass./Hudson) guided the Skyhawks in game two giving up one run on six-and-one-thirds innings pitched and six hits for her first victory in the circle this season.

Eisenmann closed out the final two outs of the contest with a pair of groundouts.

Sputo suffered the loss on six innings pitched, eight hits, five runs (four earned), two walks and a game-high five strikeouts.

Scoreless after two innings of play, Stonehill struck first with two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run single by Swider. Morrell and junior Courtney Marchand (Raymond, N.H./Timberlane Regional) led off the inning with back-to-back singles and advanced one base, respectively, on a Stryker groundout before scoring.

After Saint Rose trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the sixth inning, the Skyhawks answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame and held on for the win.

Junior Casey Remick (Norton, Mass./Norton) reached base on a fielding error to lead off the inning while Moskwa followed with a single. Morrell increased Stonehill's advantage in the next at-bat with a two-run triple down the left field line to make it 4-1. Marchand capped the scoring in the frame plating Morrell from third base with a RBI single.

Morrell and Marchand highlighted the Skyhawks offense in game two as Morrell went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two runs batted in while Marchand was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two stolen bases.

Stonehill (2-0, 2-0 NE-10) returns to action tomorrow against West Chester (Pa.) University at 1 p.m. and Lock Haven University at 5 p.m. in Clermont, Fla. at the National Training Center. Saint Rose (2-9, 0-2 NE-10) hosts Post University in doubleheader action on Wednesday, March 14 at 2:30 p.m.

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