Senior Nicole Eisenmann posted a two-run home run in Stonehill's game one victory |
EASTON, Mass. (March 28, 2013) – The Stonehill College softball team split a pair of games with the LIU Post Pioneers in a non-conference matchup Thursday afternoon at Fr. William Gartland, C.S.C., Field.
Stonehill 3, LIU Post 2
Eisenmann's two-run home run lifts Stonehill to game one victory.
Junior Nicole Eisenmann (East Bridgewater, Mass./East Bridgewater) went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run to lead the way for Stonehill. Junior Lindsay McKillop (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) also registered a hit and an RBI in the game for the Skyhawks.
Junior Liz Weber (Brightwaters, N.Y./Bay Shore (Le Moyne)) posted two hits including a solo home run for the Pioneers, who are among teams receiving votes in this week's NFCA Coaches Poll. Freshman Kelsey McLaughlin (Lido Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) also posted an RBI for Post.
Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Conn./Rocky Hill) posted her second win in as many appearances for Stonehill. Ruonavaara pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out three.
Weber was charged with the loss for LIU Post. The junior went the distance, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks. Weber struck out three, as Stonehill outhit Post 5-4.
The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. With one out in the inning, Weber launched a solo home run to center field, giving Post a one-run advantage.
Stonehill responded with three runs in bottom of the inning. Alison Sumski (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Eisenmann blasted her fifth home run of the year to right center field. Three batters later with runners on first and second, McKillop roped an RBI single to left field to make it 3-0.
The score remained the same until the sixth inning when the Pioneers cut the lead to one. After Paige Swantek (Smithtown, N.Y./Commack) doubled, McLaughlin hit a RBI single to make it 3-2. Ruonavaara shut the door after that, retiring the final three batters in order.
LIU Post 2, Stonehill 1
Emily Padilla scored the only run of the game for Stonehill in game two (PHOTO BY Richard Orr) |
Dzierzynski's two-run double helps LIU Post take game two.
Sophomore Megan Salcido (Brawley, Calif/Brawley Union) pitched five and one-third innings and earned the victory for Post in game two. Salcido gave up one earned run on four hits and three walks. Freshman Quincy Lewis (Corning, N.Y./Corning West) got the save after pitching 1.2 innings of relief. The freshman held the Skyhawks to just two hits in the outing.
McKillop was saddled with the loss for Stonehill. The junior went 5.1 innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two. Eisenmann pitched 1.2 innings of relief, yielding two hits in the appearance.
After two innings of scoreless play, Stonehill took the lead in the third. Emily Padilla (Wappinger Falls, Roy C. Ketcham) earned a lead-off walk and scored on a wild pitch three batters later.
With Stonehill still leading 1-0 in the sixth, the Pioneers fought back to take the lead. With a runner on first, junior Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y./Commack) singled to put runners on first and second. The next batter, sophomore Aly Dzierzynski (Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park), launched a two-run double to give the Pioneers the lead.
Stonehill failed to score after that, as Lewis closed the door and sealed the victory.
Stonehill (10-14, 1-1 NE-10 NE) returns to action Saturday afternoon at noon when it hosts Saint Michael's for a NE-10 double-header. Next up for LIU Post is a Friday afternoon doubleheader with Merrimack College. The games will take place at Bryant University, with game one beginning at noon.
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