Squeri pitched her first-career one-hitter and batted 3-for-5 with two homeruns

EASTON, Mass. (April 8, 2017) – The Stonehill College softball team made it three-straight victories after defeating Pace University in a five-inning shutout, 8-0, and a come-from-behind win, 3-1, Saturday afternoon on Gartland Field.

Game 1: Stonehill 8 – Pace 0 (5 innings)

Cassandra Squeri (New Providence, New Jersey/New Providence) led the Skyhawks to a five inning 8-0 shutout, its second of the season, after only allowing one hit by the Setters and striking out three, picking up her second win of the season. Squeri also assisted Stonehill at the plate, as she drove in two runs and launched her second homerun of the season, while Lianna Jordan (Staten Island, New York/St. Joseph By the Sea) also tallied two RBI, as she connected on her third dinger of the season. Sophomore Carly Rennie (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) also put her time in at the plate as she batted 1-for-1 with a three-run double and a walk.

In the bottom of the second, Stonehill connected on two hits for two runs as Squeri launched a homerun over the centerfield fence with no outs and then Jordan was able to put the ball over the left center fence for her third dinger of the season, 2-0.

Squeri held the Setters to no hits for the third-straight inning, as the Skyhawks used that momentum to tally four more runs off one hit in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Michelle Carbone (Deer Park, New York/St. Anthony's) walked and later stole second with two outs. Stonehill got the bases loaded as three-straight walks from Squeri, Sophie Perez (Bridgewater, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham Regional) and Jordan scored the first run of the inning. It was followed by a deep fly ball to left center from Rennie, driving in everyone on base for a 6-0 lead.

Stonehill led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk from Olivia Peterson (Westford, Massachusetts/Westford Academy), as Taylor Lester (East Northport, New York/St. Anthony's) reached on a fielder's choice and Peterson was called out at second. Carbone advanced Lester to second on a single through the left side and the bases became loaded after as Erin Brayden (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) walked on a full count. On a fielder's choice by Squeri, Lester crossed home plate for the seventh run of the day. Perez followed that up by tallying a RBI of her own as Carbone rushed home on an error by the catcher.

Pace was only able to attempt to play catch up in the top of the fifth, as the Setters came up with two outs and Jillian Gartner singled down the left field line for the only hit of the game. Squeri was able to get the last batter out on a fly ball to right field, securing her first one-hitter of her career.

Game 2: Stonehill 3 – Pace 1

For Stonehill, Squeri went 2-for-3 with a homerun and two RBI, while Perez batted 1-for-2 with a homerun herself and one RBI. Jennifer Mayette (Scotia, New York/Scotia-Glenville) allowed only two hits, walked six, and struck out three in her third victory of the season.

The Skyhawks and the Pacers went down one-two-three in the first inning as neither team saw a hit or a run.

In the top of the second, Pace led off with a walk from Jordan Chillinsky, who advanced to second on a passed ball. Nikole Larm reached on a fielder's choice with two outs getting the bases loaded for the Setters. Mayette walked her third batter of the inning in Tara Bernstein, as Chillinsky scored from third for a 1-0 lead for Pace. 

Stonehill tallied its first hit of the game, as Jordan singled through the left side with two outs, but was left on base in the bottom of the second.

Pace put pressure on the Skyhawks' defense as Larm's double to right center put runners on second and third with one out. Mayette was able to close out the top of the fourth with a pop up and a ground out, leaving them with two on.

Stonehill continued to put pressure on Pace as they were able to tally one hit in each of the innings until the bottom of the sixth when the Skyhawks recorded two hits. Carbone reached on an error by the left fielder and advanced to second, as Squeri was able to find the sweet spot of the bat once again lifting the ball over the left center fence for her second homer of the day, 2-1. Perez mimicked Squeri as she blasted one over the fence as well for her third homerun of the season.

Mayette closed out the top of the seventh allowing one walk and getting the Setters to ground out twice and pop up once.

Softball (6-19, 4-4 NE10) will host Adelphi University tomorrow, Sunday April 9 for its third doubleheader in a row, with a starting time of noon on Fr. Gartland Field.  

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