Junior Alison Sumski recorded two of Stonehill's six hits today as the Skyhawks dropped two games at Southern New Hampshire. |
Juniors Alison Sumski and Megan Staudle record two hits each for Skyhawks
MANCHESTER, N.H. (April 18, 2015) – The Stonehill College softball team fell victim to a pair of strong pitching performances in a doubleheader sweep this afternoon at Southern New Hampshire University, ranked 24th in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Poll, in Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division action at Penmen Field. Stonehill's late rally fell short as the Skyhawks dropped a 2-1 decision in the opener, before the Penmen posted a 7-0 win in game two.
Juniors Alison Sumski (Amherst, New Hampshire/Souhegan) and Megan Staudle (New Windsor, New York/Cornwall Central) led the Skyhawks at the plate with two hits each, while classmate Megan Ruonavaara (Rocky Hill, Connecticut/Rocky Hill) and sophomore Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/St. Anthony's) added one hit apiece.
Carbone also got the start in the circle in game one and took the loss despite giving up just two runs through seven innings. Junior Sarah Ropiak (Acton, Massachusetts/Acton-Boxborough) dropped to 8-6 on the season after taking the loss in game two, as she gave up four runs on five hits in two innings of work.
Southern New Hampshire was led by the pitching of senior Ali Maloof (Norwood, Massachusetts/Norwood) and sophomore Nicole Gubellini (Salem, New Hampshire/Salem), who each posted complete game victories. Gubellini struck out four and held the Skyhawks to one run on four hits in the opener, while Maloof allowed just two hits and struck out four in game two.
Maloof was also a key contributor at the plate, going 3-for-7 over the two games with a triple and two RBI. Junior Mo Hannan (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) matched Maloof's effort with three hits and two RBI, while classmate Lindsey Bolduc (Londonderry, New Hampshire/Londonderry) homered and drove in two runs and freshman Sarah Lavallee (Candia, New Hampshire/Central) hit a three-run double.
Southern New Hampshire 2, Stonehill 1
The Penmen jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in today's opener, as Maloof tripled with one out in the first before coming in to score two batters later on an RBI groundout by Bolduc. Southern New Hampshire added to its lead in the fourth, when Bolduc hit a solo homer over the right field fence.
The Penmen stranded a runner on third base in the fifth and missed another opportunity to add an insurance run in the sixth, as Stonehill faced a two-run deficit heading into the seventh.
Carbone led off the seventh with a single down the right field line, before the next two batters were retired. Stonehill finally broke through on Sumski's RBI single to center field, but Gubellini induced a groundout to end the game.
Southern New Hampshire 7, Stonehill 0
Maloof, who took her first loss of the season in Stonehill's 2-0 win yesterday, improved to 14-1 with Southern New Hampshire's game two victory. A three-run double by Lavallee in the second followed by Hannan's RBI single staked the Penmen to a 4-0 lead, and the home team tacked on two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Hannan and Maloof.
Stonehill's best scoring opportunity came in the fifth, when Ruonavaara was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Sumski followed with a single up the middle. Maloof retired the next three batters in order, however, as both Skyhawks were stranded on base.
Maloof added another RBI single in the sixth, and Stonehill was unable to generate any offense in its last two at-bats as Southern New Hampshire completed the sweep.
Stonehill (14-12, 8-6 NE-10) will look to bounce back on Monday afternoon at Saint Anselm College, before returning home for its final seven games of the regular season. Southern New Hampshire (23-6, 12-3 NE-10) returns to action on Tuesday against Saint Michael's College.
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