GREENVILLE, S.C. (February 7, 2025) – The Stonehill College Softball team opened its 2025 season on day one of the Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman University at Pepsi Stadium, where the Skyhawks fell to the University of Evansville before defeating Tennessee Tech University in a neutral-site doubleheader.
 
GAME 1 - Evansville 13 (1-0, 0-0 MVC), Stonehill 5 (0-1, 0-0 NEC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Evansville got on the board in the first inning thanks to an RBI triple and an RBI double that put the Purple Aces up 2-0.
 
After an RBI single from Paige Wodarski (Danvers, Mass.) got the Skyhawks a run in the second, Evansville responded with a pair of two-run home runs in the third to build a 6-1 lead.
 
Stonehill responded with big third and fourth innings capped off by an RBI single from sophomore Harper Sullivan (Glendale, Ariz.) that brought the Skyhawks within one run, 6-5.

The Purple Aces pulled away, holding Stonehill scoreless for the remainder of the game while adding three more home runs to come out on top, 13-5.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Freshmen Jenny Olson (Salem, N.H.) and Sarah Taylor (Concord, N.H.) each recorded their first career hits. Olson also recorded her first career stolen base.
• Senior Chloe Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) went 2-4 at the plate with two singles, an RBI, and a stolen base.
• Evansville's Morgan Adams and Callie Meinel each hit two home runs for the Purple Aces, while Adams had three RBI and Meinel had four.
• Notching the win in the circle for Evansville was Gracie Hollingsworth, who pitched three and a third innings, striking out five while allowing just one run and three hits.

GAME 2 - Stonehill 5 (1-1, 0-0 NEC), Tennessee Tech 2 (0-2, 0-0 OVC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Tennessee Tech scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first, but its lead was short-lived as Stonehill tallied two runs in the second inning with freshman Grace Conaway (St. Paul Park, Minn.) driving in the tiebreaking run on a groundout to second base.
 
The Skyhawks tacked on three more insurance runs in the top of the third as senior Shannon Conte (Amesbury, Mass.), redshirt junior May Dawes (Beacon Falls, Conn.), and Taylor all had RBI singles to go ahead 5-1.
Along with three singles and an RBI, Taylor also pitched a complete game for the Skyhawks, allowing three runs on seven hits with one strikeout and three walks allowed.
 
Stonehill closed out the win, 5-3, despite the Golden Eagles bringing the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh with one out in the inning.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Taylor made her first career start in the circle, pitching a complete game to earn her first win while also knocking three base hits at the plate. Taylor ends the day hitting .800 (4-5) with one RBI and a 1.600 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).
• After going hitless in game one of the day, junior Natalie Bottiglieri (Massapequa, N.Y.) reached base four times, with three singles and a walk in the win.
• Junior Jessica Brill (Natick, Mass.) had a 2-4 performance at the plate as she finished the day hitting .429 (3-7).
• Tennessee Tech was led by Abby Shoulders and Sydney Kirby who each had two hits for the Golden Eagles. Shoulders scored twice, tallied a stolen base, and hit a triple in the loss.

UP NEXT

• Stonehill softball returns to action tomorrow night for day two of the Paladin Invitational hosted by Furman, taking on UT Martin at 5 p.m. before playing the Paladins at 7:30 p.m. at Pepsi Stadium.

For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.