THE BASICS:

-Score Game 1: Assumption 3, Bentley 0

-Score Game 2: Assumption 8, Bentley 5

-Records: Assumption (11-19, 8-9 NE-10), Bentley (10-14, 8-6 NE-10)

-Location: Worcester, Mass. (Marois Field)

-The Lead: The Assumption College softball team earned a sweep over the visiting Bentley Falcons on Wednesday evening with a shutout in game one and a seven-run, fifth-inning comeback in game two to improve to third place in the Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division standings. The Hounds were down 5-0 in game two before coming back to take the 8-5 victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME 1

-The Hounds took the lead early in game one, scoring two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. 

-Junior Ashley Clark (Pawtucket, R.I. / William E. Tolman) led off the opening frame with a double to right center before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Caitlin Mirabell (Shoreham, N.Y. / Shoreham-Wading River) and scoring on a single to left by junior Ashley Abad (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford).

-Abad advanced to second on a single from senior Kayli Moniz (Fairhaven, Mass. / Fairhaven) and scored when Moniz forced a pickle situation attempting to steal second, 2-0 Hounds.

-The Hounds added their final run in the bottom of the sixth for the 3-0 final. Clark once again led off with a double followed by a single from Mirabell. Clark advanced to third on the throw and scored when Moniz flied out to center field.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS - GAME 1

-Clark and Moniz each led the Hounds with two hits in game one. Both of Clark's hits were doubles.

-Both squads posted six hits in game one.

-Mirabell and Abad also added one hit apiece to the Hounds' six-hit total.

-All six of Assumption's hits came from the first four batters in the lineup.

-Sophomore Kendal Roy (Grafton, Mass. / Grafton) claims the win for Assumption allowing just six hits in 7.0 innings. She also posted two strikeouts en route to her third shutout of the season. She improves to 9-5 overall on the season. 

-Bentley's Kelly Ferris takes the loss for the Falcons allowing three runs in 6.0 innings along with six hits and five strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED - GAME 2

-Bentley scored four runs in the top of the first on a two-out rally. Senior Jess Underwood (Hudson, N.H. / Alvirne) started game two and retired the first two batters on a ground out and a fly out before the Falcons collected four runs on four hits for a 4-0 lead.

-In the top of the third, Bentley's Chelsea Vena blast a one-out, solo homer over the right-center field fence to increase the Falcon lead to five.

-Assumption executed an impressive seven-run comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning, sparked by a one-out, two-run homer by senior Christina Caira (Newton, Mass. / Newton North) to make it 5-2. Caira plated sophomore Stephanie Menard (Cranston, R.I. / Cranston HS West), who led off the inning with a double to left center.

-After the homer, the Falcons relieved pitcher Maura Lanza and put in Kelsey Smith. Smith hit junior Cassie Schultz  (Amesbury, Mass. / Amesbury) and walked Colby, Clark and Mirabell, two of which scored on passed balls to bring the score within one, 5-4 Falcons.

-After Mirabell's walk, Ferris returned to the circle for the Falcons. With two outs, Moniz doubled to score Mirabell and Clark before Menard followed with another double to left-center field, scoring Moniz to take the lead, 7-5. 

-Two straight doubles with two outs in the bottom of the sixth from freshman Julia Mazzeo (Milford, N.H. / Milford) and Clark scored Mazzeo to extend the Greyhound lead to 8-5.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS - GAME 2

-The Hounds posted seven hits in game two, six of which were extra-base hits including doubles by Clark, Moniz, Menard (2) and Mazzeo as well as the homer from Caira.

-Clark and Menard both went 2-for-3 at the plate with one RBI to help lead the Hounds while Moniz and Caira each registered one hit and two RBI.

-Bentley tallied eight hits and left six runners on base, compared to just three left on the bases for Assumption.

-Both teams had to utilize their bull pens, entering three pitchers each into the lineups. For the Hounds, Underwood started the game and pitched 4.0 innings, registering two strikeouts while allowing five runs, one earned. Junior Jurnee Serating-Ware (Hudson, Mass. / Hudson) relieved Underwood in the top of the fifth and pitched 1.0 innings with just one hit and two strikeouts before Roy closed the game. Serating-Ware earns the win for the Hounds and is now 1-1 on the season.

-Roy pitched 2.0 innings with two strikeouts and just one hit for the save.

-Kelsey Smith takes the loss for the Falcons, she gave up four runs after hitting a batter and walking three others before being replaced by Ferris.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORES:

-Roy's complete game shutout marks her third this season. Roy has also posted all but two of the Hounds' wins this season.

-Serating-Ware claims the victory in game two, her first of the season.

-Roy earned the save in the second game pitching the final 2.0 innings for the Hounds. The save marks the first of her career.

-With the wins, the Hounds move up to third in the NE-10 Northeast Division standings with a record of 8-5. Prior to the doubleheader sweep, Bentley was ranked third while Assumption was fifth. The top four teams earn a berth to the 2016 NE-10 Tournament.

-Caira now leads the team with four home runs on the season. Prior to Caira's senior season, she had not hit a home run.

UP NEXT:

-The Hounds are set to return to action tomorrow as they host Southern New Hampshire for a 3 p.m. contest at Marois Field. 

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.

POST GAME: