Casey blasts her first-career grand slam for extra inning walk-off victory
Theilgard went 4-for-8 on the day with one RBI and two runs scored |
EASTON, Massachusetts (April 27, 2019) – The Stonehill College softball team wrapped up their season in style as they fell to Franklin Pierce University, 7-4, in game one, but saw a walk-off grand slam from Caroline Casey in the bottom of the eighth for a 10-6 victory on Saturday on Fr. Gartland Field in Northeast -10 Conference play.
With the loss, Stonehill concluded their season 15-24 overall and 11-26 in Conference play finishing in sixth place in the Northeast Division, while Franklin Pierce finished 11-30 overall and 7-20 in NE10 play for seventh.
Game 1: Stonehill 4 – Franklin Pierce 7
Michelle Theilgard was the only Skyhawk to register more than one hit in the loss, as she went 3-for-4 with one run scored, two RBI and a double. Six other Skyhawks recorded a hit, while Julia Hartman tallied the only other RBI in game one.
Theilgard's 10th double of the season came in the bottom of the first with no outs, as she drove in two runs. With one out, Hartman sent a ball to the opposite field for Theilgard to score from third for a 3-0 lead.
The Ravens cut the deficit to two, 3-1, as Ashley Conway doubled to right field scoring Gina Hinckley who doubled with one out in the top of the second. Franklin Pierce tied the game at three, 3-3, in the top of the fourth with two more runs on a solo homerun from Hinckley and a RBI single from Lexi Garcia. Stonehill fought through the defense and with the bases loaded in the bottom of the frame, Genna Hartman singled for a one-run advantage, 4-3.
Conway wrapped up her 3-for-3 day with a two-run blast in the top of the sixth inning over the left center fence putting the Ravens up one, 5-4. Cat Simmons, in the top of the seventh, saw her own two-run homerun for her lone hit of the day extending their lead to three, 7-4.
Game 2: Stonehill 10 – Franklin Pierce 6 (8 innings)
Stonehill's offense totaled 15 hits in their second extra-inning game of the season, as five Skyhawks recorded multiple hits.
In the bottom of the second inning with two outs, Maille Bennett cleared the bases for a three-run triple down the right field line for a 3-0 lead. The Skyhawks added one more run to the score with Sophie Perez's sixth double of the season for a 4-0 advantage.
Casey went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, 4 RBI, with her first-career grand slam |
The Ravens shutout the Skyhawks in the next three innings as their offense totaled five hits for six runs and their first lead of the game, 6-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Perez singled in the hole and Caroline Casey connected for her third double of the season, as Carly Rennie lined her fourth double of the season to right center to tie the game at six, 6-6. The Skyhawks stranded two on base as they retired the side to send the game into extra innings.
Stonehill allowed only one hit in the top of the eighth, as they responded with a bases loaded situation for Casey with one out. The junior sent out her first-career grand slam and second-career homerun to right field sending the Skyhawks out in style, 10-6.
The Skyhawks will continue to raise money for the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association Strikeout Cancer fundraiser from now until May 1. If you would like to donate click here.
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