Ricker went 3-for-4 with one run scored and a triple

Theilgard went 2-for-3 with her eighth double of the season and two RBI

COLCHESTER, Vt. (April 22, 2018) – The Stonehill College softball team held a 3-2 lead for five innings, as Saint Michael's College scored two late runs in the bottom of the fifth, 4-3, taking the series against the Skyhawks in Northeast-10 Conference divisional play.

For the Skyhawks, Hannah Ricker (Scarborough, Maine/Scarborough) went 3-for-4 with one run scored and her second triple of the season, while Michelle Theilgard (North Branford, Connecticut/Mercy) went 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored, two RBI, and her eighth double of the season. Sophie Perez (Bridgewater, Massachusetts/Bridgewater-Raynham) also knocked in a run with her 1-for-2 at bats, registering a sacrifice fly.

Ricker kicked off the top of the first with a single to the shortstop and advanced to second on a throwing error to get in scoring position early for the Skyhawks. With one out, Carly Rennie (Chelmsford, Massachusetts/Chelmsford) ripped a RBI double to left field, for her sixth extra-base hit of the season, eighth of her career, putting Stonehill up 1-0. Theilgard also launched a double out to left field with a 0-1 count to bring home Rennie for a 2-0 lead. The freshman advanced to third on a wild pitch and Perez sent a deep fly ball to left field for the second out of the inning and third run of the game, 3-0.

Saint Michael's quickly responded in the back half of the inning with two hits and two runs of their own to cut the deficit to one, 3-2. The Purple Knights loaded the bases three times pressuring the Skyhawks as two singled drove in two runs.

Rennie went 1-for-4 with a run scored

Both teams put pressure on the pitching staff as Stonehill stranded four batters on bases from the second to the top of the fifth and Saint Michael's left five on base, before the Purple Knights put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth for its first lead of the game, 4-3. With one out, Saint Michael's saw back-to-back doubles to score Aleksandra Apkarian for the first run. An out later, Julia Sevigny also tallied a double driving in Sarah Wright from third, but Stonehill ended the offensive attack with a ground out halting one Purple Knight on base.

Stonehill was quickly retired in the top of the sixth with three-straight outs including two strikeouts. Saint Michael's notched one hit but stranded the lone runner in the bottom of the frame for their eighth hit of the game.

The Skyhawks tried to fight back in the top of the seventh with a two out rally as Ricker registered her second triple of the game. With runners on the corners after a hit by pitch, Gianna Azzato (East Meadow, New York/East Meadow) stole second for two runners in scoring position for Rennie, but she was quickly retired for Saint Michael's Danielle Brown's seventh strikeout of the game to hold on taking the sweep against the Skyhawks, 4-3.

Stonehill (8-25, 7-16 NE10) will battle Merrimack College for the final game against the Warriors playing at Martone-Mejail Field in North Andover, Massachusetts. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.

With Stonehill's regular season wrapping up in the coming week, the Skyhawks will be hosting a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Strikeout For Cancer game on Friday, April 27 against Saint Anselm College at 3:00 p.m. on Fr. Gartland Field. The Skyhawks will be collecting donations at the field on gameday and will continue to collect funds on their GoFundMe page. All proceeds will go directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Foundation. At the game, the Skyhawks will be honoring all those who have battled or are currently battling all types of cancer. Bracelets and t-shirts will be on site at the game for purchase.

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