PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Assumption University softball team concluded its season with a 5-4 setback against second-seeded Saint Anselm in the semifinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament on Friday morning.

In a game that was moved to Pace due to the weather forecast, Assumption threatened early by loading the bases in the top of the first by drawing two walks, being aggressive on the basepaths, and having one batter get hit by a pitch. However, Haile Hicks got out of the monster jam with only one out by inducing a check swing grounder to herself and registering a strikeout.

Saint Anselm (28-14) also had opportunities to get on the board on its first try beginning when a walk was issued to Ava Caputo in the leadoff spot. However, a grounder to second that resulted in Caputo being caught in a 6-5-4-6 derailed the threat. Senior Erin Barry (Barintree, Mass.) then fanned Bre Klaiber to get out of the inning.

After leaving the bases loaded in the first, Assumption capitalized on opportunities to score four times in the second. Senior Allison Ainley (Rehoboth, Mass.) belted a double down the line in right to spark the offense and then came home on an errant throw by Hicks on a bunt by freshman Mollie Verreault (Scarborough, Maine), who reached second herself on the play. Junior Jordan Dwyer (Coventry, R.I.) followed by smashing a triple over the left fielder's head, and the Greyhounds went ahead 3-0 on another infield error. Two batters later, sophomore Abigail Larson (Marlborough, Mass.) then got hit a pitch with the bases loaded to plate an additional run.

The Hawks, however, got their bats going and sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the second. Stephanie Tardungo hit a double to left center to plate Gracie O'Hara, who singled to start the inning, and Kate Irwin tripled to right center two plays later to create a 4-2 score.

One inning later, Saint Anselm got an extra life when an infield error with two outs prolonged the frame. Following back-to-back walks to load the bases, Irwin came through again with a two-run single to tie things up. Sophomore Samantha Hardwick (Albany, N.Y.) entered the game and struck out the first batter she faced from the circle to get out of the jam, but the Greyhounds had lost their lead.

After Assumption stranded two runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth, Saint Anselm would score what would stand as the winning run on an overturned call at the plate. With one out and runners on second and third, O'Hara hit a ball that was fielded cleanly by Sheerin at short. Sheerin fired the ball home to Ainley, who needed to apply a tag on Kylie Fitzpatrick since there was no force, and the Hawk second baseman was initially called out by the home plate umpire. However, after a discussion with the other officials about whether or not the tag was officially applied, the call was changed, and Fitzpatrick was ruled safe to put the Hawks ahead for the first time.

Following a walk that put another runner on base, freshman Anna Tassone (Gardner, Mass.) then entered the game as the Greyhounds' third pitcher of the morning with one out and avoided further trouble. She was successfully able to get Tardugno to fly out to Larson in left, and Larson then gunned down Cain at home to end the frame.

Assumption attempted to rally and quickly got going in the fifth when Ainley hit a leadoff single through the left side and was sacrificed over to second by Verreault. However, Hicks settled down from there and recorded five straight outs to end the game and send her team to the championship game against top-seeded Adelphi.

Hicks picked up the victory for Saint Anselm by going the distance and moved her record up to an impressive 21-3. She gave up five hits and four runs, which were all unearned, and also notched eight strikeouts. Hardwick was tagged with the loss and ended the spring with a 7-4 record. She gave up the deciding run in 0.2 innings of relief while allowing one hit, registering one strikeout, and issuing a walk.

Assumption (19-27), which advanced to the semifinal round of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament for the first time since winning it all in 2012, graduates four seniors and is slated to return 15 letterwinners next season.