Nicole Eisenmann went 1-3 and earned an RBI in game one for the Skyhawks (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Clermont, Fla. (March 8, 2013) – The Stonehill College softball team split a pair of games today with the University of Sciences in Philadelphia and the University of Bridgeport at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.
University of Sciences 6, Stonehill 2
Ruonavaara's first career home run not enough as the Skyhawks drop game one to the Devils.
Senior Haley Kavelak (Middletown, Del./Middletown) went two-for-three with two singles and an RBI to lead the Devils. Jackie Kiefer (Aldan, Pa./Archpishop Prendergast) and Katie Dickson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) also registered RBIs for the Devils on the afternoon.
Freshman Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) launched her first home run of the season to lead the Skyhawks. Senior Nicole Eisenmann (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) also recorded an RBI, going 1-3 in the game.
Senior Courtney Spina (Thornton, Pal/Garnet Valley) pitched seven innings and earned the win for Sciences. Spina gave up two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out eight Skyhawks.
Ruonavaara was charged with the loss for the Skyhawks. Ruonavaara gave up six earned runs on eight hits, but struck out four batters for Stonehill.
The Devils opened up an early lead in the first inning. After Kavelak and Erin Summers (Pitman, N.J./Pitman) both scored on errors, SamanthaLou Anastasio (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph by-the-Sea) added the third run of the game when she singled home Dickson. The Devils took a 4-0 lead when Kavelak hit an RBI single to score Devon Debellis (Marlton, N.J./Bishop Eustace Prep).
Stonehill grabbed a run in the third to cut the Devils' lead to 4-1. After Ruonavaara singled and advanced to third, Eisenmann knocked her home when she grounded out to the first baseman.
Sciences would pad its lead to 6-1 in the fifth inning. With Kavelak on second and Debellis on third, Kiefer registered an RBI on a bunt single to score Debellis. Dickson then grounded out to third to bring in Kavelak.
Ruonavaara launched her first career home run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Skyhawks would get no closer as the Devils closed them out and won 6-2.
Kelsey Wilcox double and scored in Stonehill's win over Bridgeport |
Stonehill 2, Bridgeport 0
Esposito pitches a complete game shutout to earn her first career victory.
Freshman Emily Padilla (Wappinger Falls, N.J./Roy C. Ketcham) roped an RBI triple to lead the Skyhawks to victory. Megan Staudle (New Windsor, N.Y./Cornwall Central) chipped in with two hits of her own for Stonehill.
Freshman Lauren Esposito (Middleton, Conn./Coginchaug) pitched a complete game shutout to collect her first collegiate win. Esposito relinquished three hits and one walk, while striking out three batters for Stonehill.
Junior Tiffany Irrera (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) earned the loss for Bridgeport. Irrera went seven innings but gave up two runs (zero earned) on five hits for the Purple Knights.
Stonehill jumped on the board in the first to take an early lead. After Kelsey Wilcox (Canterbury, Conn./Griswold) doubled, Eisenman reached on an error to score Wilcox and give the Skyhawks a 1-0 advantage.
The Skyhawks would double their lead in the second. After Jocelynne Morrell (West Haven, Conn./West Haven) reached on an error, Padilla roped an RBI triple to right field to plate Morrell.
Esposito shut down the Purple Knights from that point on. The freshman allowed just two hits after the second inning and retired the final nine batters she faced to close out the win for Stonehill.
The Skyhawks (4-6, 0-0 NE-10) return to action tomorrow morning when they face off with Molly College for a double-header beginning at 10:00 am. The University of Sciences (4-4, 0-0 CACC) continues spring training tomorrow when it faces Lock Haven for a pair of games starting at 2:00 pm. Next up for Bridgeport is double-header versus Assumption college tomorrow afternoon at 5:00 pm.
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