Keene State Ends Gulls Hope of a National Title
May 15, 2005
BABSON PARK, MA -- The Endicott College softball team saw its amazing season come to a difficult close today, as the Gulls lost to Keene State, 4-0, in the 2005 NCAA Division III New England Regional Tournament. The Gulls, who advanced farther in the NCAA tournament than any other Endicott team in the program's history, finished their season with a record of 35-4-1. EC will miss their three stand out seniors; short stop Elyse Colby (Manchester, NH), third baseman Katie Doherty (Saugus, MA) and catcher Megan Young (Portland, ME).
Endicott received its only hit from Colby, who ripped a single to left field with one out in the top of the fourth inning. First year Rachel Pearson then walked and Doherty reached base on a fielding error which loaded the bases for the Gulls. But a fielder's choice grounder to second cut down Colby at the plate followed by an inning-ending ground out to third.
Keene State scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the second. Kari Gardner (Grafton, MA) led off with a single to left. The Gulls then got their first out on a sacrifice bunt when Young threw the batter, Liz Mroczka (Rocky Hill, CT), out at first. Gardner then scored on an RBI single by Kathleen Gambino (Freeport, NY). Gull pitcher Nicole Reather (Riverton, UT) struck out one, but a few miscues by the Gulls allowed three more runs before the inning came to an end, giving Keene State a 4-0 advantage.
Endicott sophomore Reather fell to 10-3 after giving up four runs, three of which were unearned, in 1 2/3 innings. Sophomore Robyn Savitske (Hellertown, PA) tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Gulls, allowing just two hits and a walk. Keene pitcher Meghan McLoughlin (Brattleboro, VT), whose record improves to 15-4, surrendered one hit and five walks while striking out four in seven innings of work.
With the win, Keene State (34-7) advances to the championship round against Williams College.
Portions of story courtesy of Babson Sports Information Office