Worcester, Mass. (April 9) – In  a back-and-forth game on a frigid Wednesday night, the Assumption College softball team dropped a 10-9 final in 11 innings to Stonehill College in a Northeast-10 Conference divisional game that was played at nearly WPI in Worcester.

Stonehill took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first before the Hounds answered in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Senior Tanya Robidoux (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central) led off the inning for Assumption with a single up the middle and later scored on a single up the middle by junior first baseman Ashley Impagliazzo (Glocester, R.I./LaSalle Academy). The Skyhawks regained the lead in the third on a two-run homer by right fielder Michelle Carbone, but the Hounds again answered with a single by in the bottom of the fourth for a 3-2 score. Sophomore Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass./Fairhaven) roped a single to left center to score freshman Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H./Bedford), who had reached base earlier in the inning on a Skyhawk error.

Lindsay McKillop added to the Stonehill lead in the top of the fifth with a two-RBI double to left as the Skyhawks took a 5-2 edge into the bottom of the fifth. Assumption erupted for four runs in the inning to take its first lead of the game at 6-5, started by an RBI double to left center by senior Kolby Davenport (Merrimack, N.H./Merrimack) that scored Impagliazzo. After senior Nikki Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) pulled the Hounds within one at 5-4, junior catcher Andrea Crowley (Norfolk, Mass./Ursuline Academy) launched a two-run homer to right to give the hosts a 6-5 edge.

Stonehill starting pitcher Megan Ruonavaara tied the game at 6-6 with a homer to center in the top of the sixth and the game stayed that way heading into the eighth inning. In the top of the eighth, Skyhawk catcher Megan Staudile led off the inning with a solo homer to left center for the 7-6 lead as the visitors appeared ready to close the game out in the bottom of the inning. Stonehill recorded the second out of the inning on a diving catch by the center fielder to preserve the lead, but junior Jess DiPilato (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) tied the game on a single up the middle to score Moniz and continue the game into the ninth.

 In the top of the 10th, Ruonavaara homered to left center for her second long ball of the game with a two-run shot for the 9-7 edge. Stonehill recorded two outs in the bottom of the frame, but DiPilato again tied the game on a two-RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 9-9 before she was thrown out at second trying to stretch the play an extra base.

Center fielder Lauren Esposito scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 11th and the Hounds were unable to pick up the equalizer as Stonehill swept the divisional series as all three games were decided by two runs or less (including two one-run contests).

Sophomore Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) took the loss for the Hounds as she threw 3.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs (one earned) with five hits to drop to 1-2 on the season. Carbone was the winner for Stonehill, improving to 5-1 with three innings of two-hit relief.

Boris led the Hounds with a 4-for-6 outing, along with three hits by Moniz and two hits each by Robidoux, DiPilato and Crowley. For Stonehill, six players had multiple hits as both Ruonavaara, Staudle and Carbone recorded three each, respectively.

With the loss, Assumption falls to 9-12 overall and 3-6 in the league, while Stonehill is now 13-12 overall and 8-3 in the Northeast-10.

Assumption is back in action on Thursday, April 10th as the Hounds are scheduled to host Merrimack for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. at Marois Field. In the event that the schedule changes, updates will be available at www.assumptiongreyhounds.com.

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