Krantz and Reardon both earn victories, push Skyhawks into NE-10 Tournament

Senior Kellie Reardon earned the win in game two for the Skyhawks in her last appearance at Fr. Gartland Field.

EASTON, Mass. (April 22, 2012) – The Stonehill College softball team completed a doubleheader sweep of no. 16 Southern Connecticut State University, 3-2 and 4-1 (five innings/rain), in Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) action on Sunday morning at Fr. William Gartland, CSC, Field.

Before the first game of the twinbill, seniors Kaitlin Andrews (Hudson, Mass./Hudson), Samantha Krantz (Hampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton Bays), Kellie Reardon (Burlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) and Chelsea Stryker (Baldwin, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) were all honored for their contributions towards the Stonehill softball program over their four-year careers.

Stonehill 3, Southern Connecticut 2

Needing just one win in the doubleheader to make its first appearance in the NE-10 Tournament since 2010, Krantz (12-6) posted a complete-game effort for Stonehill in game one allowing three hits, two runs (both earned), six walks and eight strikeouts.

The Skyhawks claimed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as junior Casey Remick (Norton, Mass./Norton) notched an infield single to short with two outs, sophomore Christina Swider (Hebron, Conn./RHAM) followed with a RBI triple down the right field line and Stryker plated Swider with a single up the middle.

Brittany Bucko (Wallington, N.J./Paramus Catholic) evened the score in the fifth inning with a two-run homer to left centerfield. Bucko drove in Julie Muscarella (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) who walked to leadoff the frame.

Stryker responded for Stonehill in the bottom of the sixth with the eventual game-winning RBI on a single up the middle scoring Kaitlin Miller (Derry, N.H./Pinkerton Academy). Miller legged out an infield base knock to leadoff the frame, advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Remick and advanced to third on the throw before scoring.

Stryker finished the contest going 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot with two runs batted in. Miller collected the Skyhawks only other multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with one run scored.

Senior Samantha Krantz had the victory in game one propelling Stonehill to the NE-10 Tournament.

Stonehill 4, Southern Connecticut 1 (Five Innings)

Reardon improved to 4-3 overall on the season in a rain-shortened contest throwing four-and-one-third innings, yielding just two hits, one run (unearned), two walks and three strikeouts. Since April 19, Reardon has not given up an earned run in eight-and-one-thirds innings pitched with two of those appearances coming in relief.

Krantz picked up the save (second) on two-thirds of an inning and two strikeouts. Krantz entered the game with one out in the fifth, had a run score on a fielding error and struck out the final two batters (one looking).

In the bottom of the third, Stonehill scored all four of its runs with a two-out rally. Stryker and junior Courtney Marchand (Raymond, N.H./Timberlane Regional) worked back-to-back walks to get the offense started and classmate Lindsay McKillop (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) followed by lacing a run-producing single to left field for a 1-0 advantage. After a fielding error allowed two runs to score, junior catcher Kelsey Wilcox (Canterbury, Conn./Griswold) deposited a RBI double just inside the right field line to cap the scoring.

The Owls threatened with the bases load and one out in the top of the fifth but managed to scratch across just one run on a fielding error. Nicole Buch (Darien, Conn./Darien) tallied a RBI on Stryker's fielding error at short, but Krantz picked up her fellow senior with back-to-back strikeouts to squander Southern Connecticut's scoring chance.

Stonehill (24-14, 17-13 NE-10) awaits its opponent in the upcoming NE-10 Tournament which is scheduled to start on Tuesday, April 24 at the higher seed. Southern Connecticut (36-8, 24-6 NE-10) also awaits word on its opponent as the Owls, who secured the NE-10 regular season title earlier this week, will serve as the no. 1 seed in the conference tournament.