Last Tuesday, March 25, the Boston College Eagles (13-14, 1-8 ACC) faced the Stonehill Skyhawks (6-17, 0-6 NEC). The Eagles sought to continue their hot streak after a win against North Carolina State and turn the tide of their season, as they are 2-9 in their last 11 games.
Kelly Colleran (6-5, 4.16 ERA) opened the game by retiring the side, striking out the Skyhawks’ last two batters. Gator Robinson started the bottom of the first with a single through the right side. However, after Hannah Slike flew out to center, Colleran was caught stealing and Emma Jackson struck out looking.
At the start of the second inning, Stonehill’s star hitter and senior, Isabella Therrian, kicked off the scoring with a home run. Colleran then walked Shannon Conte, putting a runner on first with no outs. Any chance of Stonehill fueling their lead was quickly shut down as Colleran regained control, forcing the next two hitters to fly out and strike out, respectively. With two outs, May Dawes proceeded to walk, but Colleran got the next batter to strike out, ending the top half of the second. Beginning the bottom half of the second, the Eagles looked to respond and even the score or pull ahead. After Jordan Stephens flew out to right, Zoe Hines singled to left field. Any signs of life, however, quickly dissipated as Stonehill’s pitcher, Lauren Donavon (1-4, 5.91 ERA), got the next two batters to fly out, leaving the Eagles scoreless through two.
The third inning opened with 1st baseman Meghan Schouten catching a ball hit in foul territory. Grace Conaway attempted to bunt but was thrown out. Colleran bounced back after an error by third baseman Adriana Martinez, striking out the next hitter swinging and recording her fourth strikeout of the game.
After a pop-up to open the bottom of the third, things began to look grim for the Eagles. However, the team was quickly rejuvenated as Sammy Horn hit a triple and proceeded to score on a sac fly hit by Robinson, leveling the score at 1-1. Hannah Slike then flew out, ending the inning.
Colleran retired the side at the top of the fourth in order, collecting an additional strikeout in the process. With the Eagles due up, the momentum of the game began to shift. With one out in the inning, Stephens singled up the middle. A throwing error by Stonehill’s Donovan led to Hines reaching first and Stephens advancing to third. The pair then perfectly executed a double steal as Stephens scored, giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead. Martinez then popped out to right, ending the inning.
At the top of the fifth, Colleran continued her dominance, retiring the side in order. She forced the first two batters into a lineout and a pop-up before closing the half-inning with a strikeout, bringing her total to seven. At the bottom half of the inning, with one out, Schouten hit a solo home run, extending the lead to 3-1. Horn then singled down the left field line, but any hope of the Eagles extending their lead ended with the next batters, Robinson and Slike flying out.
After a three-inning cold stretch, Grace Conaway started the inning for the Skyhawks with a base hit after the left fielder, Horn, barely missed a diving catch. With one out and a runner on first, Colleran fell behind in the count, throwing three straight balls to Isabella Therrien. Facing the risk of putting two runners on, she fought back to even the count at 3-2 before forcing Therrien to pop up to second baseman Emma Jackson.
The bottom half of the sixth saw the Eagles double their lead with a homer by Jackson, extending the lead to 4-1. With two outs, everything unraveled for Stonehill as Adriana Martinez doubled into the gap and Tannis Jackin quickly came in to pinch-run for her. Hilt then walked, and with runners on first and second, the lead was further extended when Schouten doubled to right center, scoring two and bringing the Eagles’ lead to 6-1.
The top of the seventh represented Stonehill’s last chance to make a comeback as Gabriella Aughton (5.25 ERA) closed out the game easily. She quickly retired the next two batters with a groundout and a flyout before sealing the game with a final strikeout, securing a 6-1 victory for the Eagles and maintaining their dominant performance from start to finish.
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