EASTON, Mass. (April 2, 2024) – The Stonehill College Softball team lost to Merrimack College, 6-4, Tuesday afternoon at Fr. Gartland Field in a Northeast Conference matchup.

Merrimack 6 (11-20, 5-2 NEC), Stonehill 4 (6-20, 1-9)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Merrimack went up 1-0 in the opening frame of action as the second batter of the game drew a walk, stole second, and eventually scored on an error by the second baseman.

Madie Fornwalt had a perfect game going for the first four innings in the circle for the Warriors while Stonehill starter junior Skylar Brandemarte (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) gave up just two hits over four innings after the opening run scored in the first.

Merrimack scored five runs in the top of the fifth capped off by a double with the bases loaded that cleared the bases as the Warriors held a 6-0 lead.

The Skyhawks answered with two runs of their own in the fifth inning and another two in the sixth when freshman Harper Sullivan (Glendale, Ariz.) lined a double down the left field line to bring junior Chloe Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) in to score. Pinch-runner Piper Hofmann (Windermere, Fla.) also scored on a fielder's choice later in the inning as Stonehill trailed 6-4 going into the seventh.

Freshman Alexa Hospodar (Old Bethpage, N.Y.) entered the game in relief in the fifth inning, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing just two hits to keep the Warriors offense from adding to their lead.

Stonehill failed to score in the seventh as Merrimack secured the NEC win, 6-4.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Brandemarte falls to 3-9 in the circle this year while Merrimack starter Madie Fornwalt improved to 6-5 with a complete game, striking out six batters.
• Hospodar went 2.1 innings in relief, striking out a career-high four batters while shutting out the Warriors.
• Sullivan notched her second career multi-hit game and her first career double as she has now recorded a hit in three straight games.

UP NEXT

Stonehill softball continues Northeast Conference action with a doubleheader at Fr. Gartland Field on Saturday, April 6 against Wagner College beginning at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks rescheduled their Wednesday, April 3 matchup with Merrimack to next week as the Skyhawks and Warriors will play a doubleheader on April 9 beginning at 2 p.m.

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