Waltham, Mass. (April 9) -- The Assumption College softball team split a doubleheader on the road in two close match-ups at Bentley University on Thursday. The Hounds claimed a 3-1 win in game one, sparked by the tying run in the top of the sixth, followed by a narrow 5-4 defeat in game two. 

The Hounds are now 11-8 overall, 3-4 in the NE-10, while Bentley earns its first NE-10 win to sit at 1-1 in the league, 4-7 on the season.

Game One: Assumption 3, Bentley 1

Sparked by the tying run in the top of the sixth inning, the Assumption squad came back from a 1-0 deficit to claim a 3-1 victory in game one. An RBI double off the bat of sophomore Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, RI / Tolman) gave the Hounds a 2-1 lead in the seventh before senior Ashley Impagliazzo (Glocester, R.I. / LaSalle Academy) added an RBI single up the middle to clinch the victory.

Sophomore Courtney Oliva (Vernon, Conn. / Rockville) started the game in the circle for the Hounds, pitching five innings while allowing six hits and one run. Oliva, who struck out two batters in her time in the circle, was relieved by freshman Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) in the sixth. Roy pitched the final two innings for the Hounds, striking out one while refusing to give up a hit. The freshman ultimately earned the win and improves to 4-4 on the season.

The Hounds looked to be off to a good start in the top of the first when junior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven) led off with a double to left field however, a line drive, double play to the Falcon second baseman awarded Bentley a quick two outs en route to ending the inning. 

In the bottom of the third, Bentley notched the first run of the game when the Falcons loaded the bases on two singles and a walk with just one out. Bentley's Alex Borrelli stepped to the plate, attempting to drive in the first run of the game, but popped the ball to third where senior Jess DiPilato (Worcester, Mass. / Holy Name) was waiting to turn the play at home.

With the bases still loaded, Oliva hit Morgan Mazone to walk in the first run of the game, putting Bentley ahead 1-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, Bentley threatened again when a fielder's choice and two walks re-loaded the bases. DiPilato once again worked the Hounds out of danger with an unassisted play at third to end the inning.

Assumption tied it up the top of the sixth. Clark led off the inning with a single to right field, followed by a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Impagliazzo to advance Clark to second. A DiPilato single to left moved Clark to third before Abad singled through the left side to plate Clark, 1-1.

Roy entered the game in the bottom of the sixth and held Falcons, allowing just three batters at the plate, before Assumption came back for the win in the seventh.

With one out, sophomore Cassidy Colby (Charlton, Mass. / Shepherd Hill) pinch hit for freshman Marissa Gifford (North Attleboro, Mass. / North Attleboro) and singled to right field to lead off the top of the seventh. Moniz followed with a groundout to third base to make it two outs before Clark launched her third double in as many games to score Colby for a 2-1 advantage.

Impagliazzo followed it up with a single rip up the middle to score Clark for a two-run cushion before the Greyhound defense held the Falcons in the bottom of the frame for the win.

Moniz, Clark and DiPilato each posted two hits on the day while Clark, Impagliazzo and Abad each registered an RBI. Kelsey Kennedy and Catie Noons led the Falcon offense with two hits apiece as well.

The Hounds tallied nine hits to just six for the Falcons, leaving seven on base compared to 10 for Bentley. 

Game Two: Bentley 5, Assumption 4

Junior Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H. / Alvirne) started in the circle for the Hounds in game two. Underwood threw 5.1 innings for two earned runs on two hits while notching five strikeouts. She was relieved by Roy in the sixth who allowed three runs on three hits, walking one, in 0.2 innings. Underwood takes the loss for the Hounds and falls to 4-3 on the season. 

The second game between the Hounds and the Falcons remained deadlocked at 0-0 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Bentley notched five runs to get out to a sizeable lead.

The Falcons got it started with a bases loaded, two-RBI double to left center from Bentley's Jill Raia in the bottom of the sixth. Raia was the second batter Roy faced after entering the game. A follow-up two-RBI double to left center off the bat of Kelsey Smith put Bentley up 4-0 before a groundout to DiPilato at third made it two outs with one on base. Chelsea Vena singled to Greyhound shortstop Moniz to drive in Smith for the 5-0 advantage.

In the top of the seventh, the Hounds rallied for a four-run comeback, kicked off by two free bases. Sophomore Cassie Schultz (Amesbury, Mass. / Amesbury) was hit by Smith, the Falcon pitcher, before Colby walked to put two on. A Moniz groundout moved both into scoring position before a two-out single up the middle from Impagliazzo scored Colby and Shultz. DiPilato followed with a single to center to advance Impagliazzo to third. 

With the Hounds narrowing the gap to 5-2 with runners on first and third, the Falcons put Michelle DeVito into the circle, who walked Abad to load the bases. Freshman Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West) blasted a two-RBI single to center to score Impagliazzo and DiPilato, 5-4.

The Greyhounds loaded the bases one more time, batting around the order, but lead-off batter Schultz closed the inning on a DeVito strikeout for the 5-4 final.

Assumption tallied five hits in game two while drawing eight walks and leaving 10 runners stranded on base. Bentley also notched five hits, drew six walks and left six on base.

Impagliazzo led the Hounds with two hits, two RBI and one run scored while DiPilato also tallied two hits and one run. Impagliazzo was also the only player to register a triple.

Assumption is set to return to action in back-to-back doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, against Franklin Pierce. The Hounds will face the Ravens on Saturday at WPI, and look to host on Sunday at Marois Field.