MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College softball team wrapped up a playoff berth as a four-run rally in the sixth gave the Hawks a 4-3 victory over visiting Stonehill College on Friday afternoon at South Athletic Fields.

Box Score

After five scoreless innings, Stonehill (11-28, 9-13 NE10) took a 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth, but Saint Anselm (15-14, 13-7 NE10) answered with four in the home half of the inning and held on in the seventh. The win sealed the Hawks' fourth berth in the Northeast-10 Championship in the last five seasons.

Shannon Colson had a key RBI bunt single in the sixth and was 2-for-3 on the day with a run, an RBI and two stolen bases. Five other Hawks had one hit apiece, including Amanda Bickford, who extended her hitting streak to 11 games. Maggie Murphy was 1-for-3 with a run and has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games.

Sam Hennequin earned her 11th victory of the season, throwing a complete game while allowing three runs on eight hits. The senior struck out seven and did not walk a batter in the win.

Cassandra Squeri was 2-for-3 with an RBI and also took the loss after working the first five-plus innings for the Skyhawks. Squeri yielded four runs, although just one was earned, on seven hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Julia Hartman also had two hits, while Taylor Lester and Lianna Jordan delivered run-scoring hits for Stonehill, which was eliminated from postseason contention with the loss and results elsewhere in the league.

Hennequin and Squeri kept the opposing offenses off the board until Stonehill scored twice in the top of the sixth. Jordan drove in pinch-runner Katherine Rayner with a one-out double to left center and came around to score on a single by Squeri two batters later.

After Murphy and Murrell started the bottom of the sixth with singles, Erin Thompson dropped down a sacrifice bunt and an errant throw to first allowed her to reach and Murphy to score. Colson followed with a bunt single to score pinch-runner Karoline Leavitt from third. Later in the inning, Colson scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Shannon McLaughlin.

Stonehill put together a two-out rally in the seventh, but Hennequin limited the Skyhawks to one run to seal the win. Lester drove in a run with a two-out single to center, which left runners on first and second in a one-run game. Hennequin regrouped and got a ground ball to third to end the game.

The Hawks will look to improve their playoff seed as the two teams complete their three-game set with a Senior Day doubleheader starting at noon on Saturday, April 29. Prior to the first game, Saint Anselm will honor Hennequin, the lone senior on this season's roster.