Freshman Megan Ruonavaara launched a three-run home run and earned the victory in game one (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
EASTON, Mass. (March 27, 2013) – The Stonehill College softball team split a pair of games against the Bentley College Falcons in a Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division matchup at Fr. William Gartland C.S.C. Field in Easton, Mass.
Stonehill 6, Bentley 5
Ruonavaara's three-run home run powers Stonehill to game one victory.
Freshman Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored to lead the way for Stonehill. Junior Brianna Gunter (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) and senior Courtney Marchand (Raymond, N.H./Timberlane) each chipped in with RBIs for Stonehill. Gunter went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored, while Marchand went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single.
Junior Kelly Sanborn (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) paced the Falcons, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Alex Borelli (Salem, N.H./Central Catholic) also had a good game for Bentley, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Falcons struck early, grabbing two runs in the top of the first. After Erica Thibodeau (Cohoes, N.Y./Shaker) singled and Borelli singled, Sanborn roped a two-RBI double off the right field wall to put Bentley up 2-0.
Stonehill got one back in the bottom of the second inning. With Gunter on third base after a double and a wild pitch, Marchand hit an RBI-single to right field, making it 2-1.
The Skyhawks took the lead in the third. Following singles by Kelsey Wilcox (Canterbury, Conn./Griswold) and Nicole Eisenmann (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater), Ruonavaara launched her second home run of the season to put the Skyhawks up 4-2.
Bentley tied the game with two runs in the fifth. After singles by Morgan Mazone (Selkirk, N.Y./Bethlehem Central) and Thibodeau, Laura McDonough (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Borelli singled to the second baseman to drive home Mazone. Thibodeau also scored on the play after an error by the first baseman, making it 4-4.
Stonehill regained the lead with two runs in the fifth. With runners on first and third, Gunter hit an RBI-single to the pitcher. Megan Staudle (New Windsor, N.Y./Cornwall Central) then hit an RBI-single of her own to make it 6-3.
The Falcons threatened in the ninth, adding a run, but failed to tie the score as Ruonavaara closed the door to seal the victory for Stonehill.
Bentley 2, Stonehill 1
Senior captain Kelsey Wilcox posted three hits on the afternoon including a solo home run |
Taitz pitches a two-hit shutout as Bentley takes game two.
Senior pitcher Carly Taitz (Blue Point, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point) pitched a complete game two-hitter to lead the way for Bentley. Taitz gave up one earned run on two hits, while striking out three to earn her third victory of the year.
Freshman Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Conn./Coginchaug) was saddled with the loss for Stonehill. Esposito pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs on three hits, while striking out two.
The Falcons took the early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Jackie Gauthier (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) hit a solo home run, her second of the year, to give Bentley the one-run advantage.
The Skyhawks struck back in the third inning to tie the game at one. Wilcox blasted her third home run of the year to knot the score at 1-1.
Bentley would regain the lead in the fifth. After Borrelli singled to right field, she advanced to third after a throwing error by the second baseman and a sacrifice bunt. Samantha Tierney (Wappingers Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham) knocked Borrelli in when she grounded out to the pitcher.
That run proved to be the winner as Taitz closed out the Skyhawks in the fifth, sixth, and seventh.
Stonehill (9-13, 3-3 NE-10) returns to action Thursday afternoon for a double-header with LIU-Post (weather permitting). Game one begins at 2:00 pm with game two to follow at 4:30. Next up for Bentley (5-11, 1-5 NE-10) is a double-dip with Saint Anselm College Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm.
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