Junior Megan Ruonavaara hit a two-run homer as Stonehill split a doubleheader at Saint Anselm today. |
Skyhawks fall 3-2 in opener, rebound for 5-4 win in game two
MANCHESTER, N.H. (April 14, 2015) – Stonehill College split a pair of one-run contests this afternoon at Saint Anselm College in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division softball action at South Athletic Field. Saint Anselm rallied from a late two-run deficit and walked off with a 3-2 win in the opener, before Stonehill rebounded to edge the Hawks 5-4 in game two.
Juniors Megan Staudle (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) and Lauren Esposito (Middlefield, Connecticut/Coginchaug) led the Skyhawks at the plate with three hits each, while sophomore Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) and junior Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Connecticut/Rocky Hill) drove in two runs apiece.
Saint Anselm was led by junior Pattie Turner (Warwick, Rhode Island/Toll Gate), who went 3-for-7 with a home run and two RBI. Freshman Amanda Bickford (Salem, New Hampshire/Salem) posted a 3-for-6 effort with a double and one RBI, while classmate Megan Murrell (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) added a home run and two RBI.
Saint Anselm 3, Stonehill 2
Stonehill led 2-0 through five innings, but Saint Anselm tied the score in the bottom of the sixth before plating the game-winning run in the seventh. Junior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) dropped to 7-5 with the loss, while Hawks senior Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine/Mattanawcook Academy) picked up the win to improve to 8-1.
After a scoreless first, Stonehill took a 2-0 lead in the second when Squeri led off with a walk and Ruonavaara followed with a two-run homer to left field, her first of the season.
Neither team recorded another hit until the bottom of the fourth, as the Hawks put a runner in scoring position when junior Julie LeClair (Taunton, Massachusetts/Coyle-Cassidy) walked before advancing to second on a single, but Ropiak got out of the inning with a double play.
Saint Anselm finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth, tying the contest on a two-run homer by Turner, before loading the bases in the seventh and walking off on a two-out single by Bickford.
Sophomore Cassandra Squeri recorded a two-run double in game two against the Hawks. |
Stonehill 4, Saint Anselm 3
The Skyhawks again lost a late two-run lead in game two, but were able to score the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh and hold on to earn the doubleheader split. Ruonavaara went the first 4.2 frames in the circle but did not earn a decision, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits. Sophomore Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/St. Anthony's) picked up the win in relief, giving up just one unearned run on four hits through 2.1 innings.
Carbone also did her part at the plate, opening the scoring in the first with an RBI single before scoring on a wild pitch to give the Skyhawks a 2-0 lead. Stonehill would double its lead in the top of the third on a two-run double by Squeri, but Saint Anselm answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, as Murrell hit a two-run shot to right center field.
The Hawks then tied the game in the fifth, plating two unearned runs with the help of singles by Murrell and freshman Hannah Paitchel (Pelham, New Hampshire/Pelham).
Neither team scored in the sixth, and Saint Anselm senior Paige Cormier (Rochester, New Hampshire/Spaulding) retired the first two Skyhawk batters in the top of the seventh. Freshman Erin Brayden (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) followed with a two-out triple, before sophomore Taylor Lester (East Northport, New York/St. Anthony's) delivered a pinch-hit single to right field, driving in the go-ahead run. Saint Anselm would go down in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Skyhawks held on for the win.
Stonehill (12-10, 6-4 NE-10) is off tomorrow before heading to Merrimack College on Thursday for a 3 p.m. contest. Saint Anselm (13-4, 5-2 NE-10) will be back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader at Franklin Pierce University.
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