EASTON, Massachusetts (April 15, 2023)- Today, the Stonehill College softball team hosted day two of the Long Island University Sharks series, an NEC Conference competitor, at Father Gartland Field today for a doubleheader, where the Skyhawks fought hard, but fell to the Sharks in both games. 

Coach Ken Day

Today's games were in celebration of former softball head Coach Ken LeGrice. Coach Ken served 12 seasons as head coach of the Stonehill softball program, leading the Skyhawks until his passing in May 2021 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Coach Ken was a class of 1982 Northeastern University graduate, served 34 years for the Brockton Police Department, and was a member of the Stonehill softball program for 17 years, 12 of those years as head coach. Coach Ken guided the Skyhawks to a program-record 197 wins and six Northeast-10 Conference Tournament appearances. We continue to celebrate the impact Coach Ken made in the Stonehill community as a teacher, mentor, and friend as well as his service to the local community.

GAME 1: The Skyhawks started off strong in the first game of today's doubleheader, but couldn't grab the win, ending with a loss of 2-1. 

Standout Performances:

• Natalie Bottiglieri: RBI
• Shannon Conte: RBI
• Skylar Brandemarte: Three Strikeouts

Key Moments:                           

• In the bottom of the second inning, with one out and pinch runner Katelin Price on third, third basemen Shannon Contesingled through the right side, sending Price home to earn an RBI and a run for the Skyhawks.
• In the bottom of the fifth inning, shortstop Emily Nardelli is on second, and center fielder Natalie Bottiglieri is up to bat. Bottiglieri hits a single to the outfield, making it to first, but advances to second on an overthrown by the LIU shortstop, sending Nardelli home to earn an RBI and another run on the board for the Skyhawks.
• For all seven innings, pitcher Skylar Brandemarte was in the circle, throwing 57 strikes and three strikeouts.

Pitching Records:

Win: LIU- K. Buckner (83-7)

Loss: Stonehill- Skylar Brandemarte (112-57)

GAME 2: In game two, the Skyhawks played a tough second game of today's doubleheader, ending with a loss of 1-6.

Standout Performances:

• Paige Wodarski: Homerun, RBI
• Shannon Conte & Paige Wodarski: Double Play

Key Moments:

• In the bottom of the fourth inning, DP Paige Wodarski was the first up to bat, hitting a deep ball into the outfield, making it over the fence, earning her first home run of the season, and putting the Skyhawks on the scoreboard.
• In the top of the fifth inning, with the Skyhawks taking the field, LIU had a runner on first and second. LIU's next batter up grounded out to third basemen Conte, where she touched third base and threw the ball to Wodarski at first to tag the batter out, earning a double play to end the inning.
• Pitcher Molly Adamo stepped into the circle in the second inning, throwing 26 strikes and two '3 up 3 down' innings in the third and sixth inning.

Pitching Records:

Win: LIU- A. O'Donnell (89-52)

Loss: Stonehill- Kelly Mayette (23-7), Molly Adamo (52-26)

Up Next:

Stonehill is back in action at home in Easton, Massachusetts on Tuesday, April 18th at Father Gartland Field for a doubleheader against Bryant University at 3 pm & 5 PM.

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