THE BASICS:

-Score: Assumption 3, Stonehill 6

-Records: Assumption (4-15, 1-6 NE-10), Stonehill (8-9, 4-1 NE-10)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Marois Field)

-The Lead: The Assumption College softball team dropped a 6-3 final to the visiting Stonehill Skyhawks on Thursday in its home opener at Marois Field. Prior to the game, the Hounds and the Skyhawks also completed a suspended tied game from March 16. Stonehill scored in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

-Stonehill got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. First baseman Megan Ruonavaara hit a two-out double to left field to score Michelle Carbone, who had walked.

-The Hounds tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the first. Junior Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) singled through the right side with two outs and was followed immediately by sophomore Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West), who blasted a single to right field that scored Abad from first. Abad hustled down the line to beat out the throw to home.  

-Stonehill once again took the lead in the bottom of the second when Jacklyn Oleksak singled up the middle to score Megan Staudle, who had reached on a bunted single.

-Assumption tied it again at 2-2 in the bottom of the second. Senior Christina Caira (Newton, Mass. / Newton North) led off with a walk before junior Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I. / William E. Tolman) reached on a Skyhawk error, scoring Caira.

-In the top of the third, Stonehill reclaimed the lead scoring twice to make it 4-2 Skyhawks. 

-The Hounds threatened in the bottom of the third, placing two runners in scoring position including senior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven), who singled, and Menard, who reached on a fielder's choice. A ground out to second base closed the inning however, keeping the Hounds down by two.

-Assumption reduced the deficit to one in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-3 Stonehill. Freshman Victoria Petrie (Marlborough, Mass. / Marlborough) led off with a walk followed by a well-placed sacrifice bunt off the bat of junior Cassie Schultz (Amesbury, Mass. / Amesbury). Freshman Julia Mazzeo (Milford, N.H. / Milford) pinch hit for the Hounds with two outs and blasted an RBI double to left field to score Petrie from third.

-In the top of the seventh, Stonehill added two more runs to increase its lead to 6-3 for the ultimate final score.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-The Hounds posted five hits on the day compared to 11 for Stonehill.

-Clark, Mazzeo, Abad, Menard and Moniz each registered a hit for Assumption while Clark, Mazzeo and Menard tallied an RBI apiece.

-Megan Staudle led the Skyhawks with three hits in three at bats. She also posted three RBI and scored two runs.

-Junior Courtney Oliva (Vernon, Conn. / Rockville) takes the loss for the Hounds after allowing six hits and four runs in 3.0 innings. She was replaced in the circle by sophomore Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) in the top of the fourth who allowed five hits and two runs in 4.0 innings while tallying one strikeout.

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds are set to play three games at Franklin Pierce from March 25-26. Live stats will not be available for the games but stats and recaps will be available on www.AssumptionGreyhounds.com.

STAY CONNECTED:

-For the latest on Assumption College Athletics, follow the Hounds via social media on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. For more information, contact the Office of Athletic Communications at 508-767-7240. 

-Fans can also sign up for email updates and text message alerts for the women's softball team and all of the other 23 Assumption varsity sports by clicking here.