Junior Megan Ruonavaara went 4-for-6 at the plate today as Stonehill split two games with Bridgeport and Minnesota State Moorhead. |
Skyhawks top Purple Knights, 2-1, before falling to Dragons by the same score
CLERMONT, Fla. (March 14, 2015) – The Stonehill College softball team split a pair of non-conference contests today, defeating the University of Bridgeport 2-1 before falling to Minnesota State University Moorhead by the same score in Clermont, Florida.
Stonehill was led offensively by junior Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Connecticut/Rocky Hill), who went 4-for-6 at the plate over the two games with a double, a triple, and a run scored. Classmate Megan Staudle (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) recorded two hits and a run, while sophomore Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/St. Anthony's) chipped in with a pair of hits as well.
Stonehill 2, Bridgeport 1
Junior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) turned in her second consecutive impressive performance, improving to 4-1 this season after going the distance and allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out five. Ropiak also helped her own cause at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Bridgeport was led by senior outfielder Jade Blair (West Deptford, New Jersey/West Deptford), who accounted for two of the Purple Knights' four hits and scored their only run, while junior Paige Owens (Berlin, Connecticut/Berlin) and senior Jessica Griesinger (Brewster, New York/Brewster) added one hit each.
Stonehill took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, as Ropiak singled before coming in to score on an RBI double by Ruonavaara. The Skyhawks tacked on another run the next inning, which would prove to be enough for Ropiak as Bridgeport managed to score just once in the fifth.
Sophomore Michelle Carbone recorded a hit in each game and also tossed six innings against Minnesota Moorhead, giving up just two runs. |
Minnesota State Moorhead 2, Stonehill 1
Carbone followed Ropiak's effort with another strong outing in the circle, as she gave up two runs through six innings, but Moorhead's Kristen Nordby (Blaine, Minnesota/Centennial) was even better, lasting all seven frames and allowing just one unearned run while striking out four.
Ruonavaara again led the way at the plate for Stonehill with her second 2-for-3 performance of the day, as the first five batters in Stonehill's lineup recorded hits.
Nordby and senior Taylor Huss (Peshtigo, Wisconsin/Peshtigo) each went 2-for-3 for the Dragons, while classmate Mollie Annen (Shakopee, Minnesota/Shakopee) added a single and a run.
Moorhead jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Huss, but Stonehill pulled even in the fourth as Ruonavaara scored with the help of an error.
The Dragons would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth, when senior Brittany York (Crystal Lake, Illinois/Crystal Lake Central) reached base on a fielder's choice, scoring sophomore Carly Williamson (Council Bluffs, Iowa/Thomas Jefferson) from third.
The Skyhawks had an opportunity to tie the game in the seventh inning, as Staudle got into scoring position with one out on a double to center field, but Nordby got the final two Stonehill batters to fly out to end the contest.
Stonehill (5-5, 0-0 NE-10) will cap its season-opening spring break trip in Florida tomorrow with a doubleheader against Molloy College. The first game is scheduled for 9 a.m., with the second to follow at 11 a.m.
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