Clermont, Fla. (March 7) -- On Monday afternoon, the Assumption softball team improved to 3-3 overall with a doubleheader split vs. Queens College (N.Y.) on day three of the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The Hounds took game one by an 8-7 final before being shut out by the Knights in game two by a 2-0 score. Assumption is off on Tuesday before returning to play on Wednesday.
In addition, Assumption senior third baseman Ashley Bilodeau (Manchester, Conn./East Catholic) and junior pitcher Casey Halajian (Quincy, Mass./Archbishop Williams) were honored by the Northeast-10 on Monday for their play in a 2-2 week. Bilodeau earned Player of the Week honors, while Halajian was named as the league's Pitcher of the Week. Bilodeau hit .538 with three runs scored, six RBI and a two-run homer. Halajian threw a complete-game five-hitter, allowing just one earned run and striking out eight in a win over Mercy.
Game One: Assumption 8, Queens 7
The Hounds jumped out to a 1-0 lead with one out in the first as Lauren Medeiros (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) tripled down the right field lineto drive in leadoff batter Tanya Robidoux (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central) for the game's first run. Queens quickly rebounded in the top of the third though with a seven-hit, five-run inning that included a two-RBI single to center by Carla Pennolino and an RBI triple by Anniella Vaccaro.
Assumption tied the game though in the bottom of the inning with a three-hit, four-run frame, along with taking advantage of a pair of Queens' errors. Robidoux reached on a single up the middle, advanced on a groundout and scored on an error by the right fielder for the first run of the inning. After the second out of the inning, the Hounds kept the bats going and behind a two-RBI double from Amy Gordon (Seekonk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) and an RBI single thru the left side by Nicole Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner), it was quickly tied at up 5-5 after just three innings. Both teams scored in the fourth inning for the 7-7 score before the Greyhounds tallied the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Gordon led off the fifth with a double to left center, advanced to third on a wild pitch and eventually scored on a fielders choice for the winning run.
Picking up the win in relief was Chelsea Durso (Salem, N.H./Salem), who threw the last 4.1 innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Faith Tessmer took the loss for the Knights, allowing eight runs in five innings while scattering nine hits.
Game Two: Queens 2, Assumption 0
In game two, neither team could get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth as the Knights struck for the game's only two runs. After a leadoff single to left from Pennolino, the Knights sacrificed her to second and then struck out for the second out of the inning. After a walk, a wild pitch and stolen base made it runners on second and third with two outs, Allison Breakley singled to bring around Samantha Stallone and Pennolino with the lone runs of the game.
Jennifer Lowrey (Assonet, Mass./Apponequet) took the loss for the Hounds, going six innings and scattering six hits with two earned runs allowed and seven strikeouts. Brytnee Santana got the win for Queens with a seven-inning, five-hit performance.
The Greyhounds are back in action on Wednesday as the team takes on West Virginia Wesleyan at 9:30 a.m., followed by a matchup with West Chester beginning at 11:30 a.m.
