Gulls Swept By Wellesley (9-0, 8-7) In Non-Conference Action

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team was swept (9-0, 8-7) by the visiting Wellesley College Blue in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday evening at the Softball Field.

GAME 1 – Wellesley 9, Endicott 0 (5 inn.)

The Blue blanked the Gulls in game one by putting up a two-spot in the top of the first as junior left fielder Ashtyn Coleman's (Scottsdale, Ariz.) RBI single down the right field line plated senior catcher Carly Bresee (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). Sophomore first baseman Amanda Manning (Durham, Calif.) scored as A. Coleman baited a throw down to second and was tagged out in the rundown as Wellesley got its second run.

Three straight RBI singles from Manning, A. Coleman, and junior center fielder Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wash.) with no outs in the top of the third allowed the Blue to score three more (K. Coleman, Bresee, Manning) and a squeeze bunt by senior shortstop Jaclyn Tsang (Manalapan, N.J.) brought across the fourth run (A. Coleman) of the inning to spot Wellesley a 6-0 lead.

The visitors tacked on the last three runs in the fourth inning when Bresee doubled home junior second baseman Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.), followed by Manning's two-run shot to dead center field with nobody out.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Sophomore starting pitcher Mikaela Mallozzi (Shelton, Conn.) was the losing pitcher as she fell to 2-2 on the season in three innings of work. Mallozzi gave up eight runs on 10 hits, walked one and struck out four .
• Freshman pitcher Laura Somerville (Suffield, Conn.) made her fourth appearance of the season in relief and allowed one run on two hits (one homer) with one walk and two strikeouts in two innings in the circle.
• The Gulls struck out a season-high 10 times (seven looking) in game one.
• Endicott was shut out for the third time this season, but for the first time in a five-inning game.
• Sophomore right fielder Stephanie Cameron (Milford, Conn.) broke up the perfect-game by drawing her first of two walks in the game with one out in the bottom of the third.
• Sophomore shortstop Kayla Sheldon (Burlington, Mass.) got the Gulls' first hit of the game with a single to left field with one out in the bottom of the third.
• Sheldon had two of the Gulls' three hits in the game.

FOR THE FOES

• Sophomore starting pitcher Julia Warner (Kenmore, Wash.) earned her third win of the season (3-4) in a complete-game effort (five innings) as she sat down 10 by way of the K and scattered three hits.
• Bresee and Manning each collected three hits and scored three runs apiece.
• Manning drove in a game-high three RBIs as she hit her first homer of the season.

GAME 2 – Wellesley 8, Endicott 7

The Blue got out to another fast start in game two of the twin bill by putting up three runs in the top of the first on an RBI single to center field by Tsang and a two-RBI single to center field off the bat of freshman designated player Veronica Locher (Walnut Creek, Calif.).

Endicott fought back for two runs in the bottom of the second as freshman right fielder Hayley Arduini (Southington, Conn.) launched her first career home run to left center field to score sophomore catcher Emily Sharpe (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and cut the deficit to 3-2.

Wellesley made it 4-2 in the top of the next frame on another RBI single to center from Tsang.

With runners on second and third and two outs, junior left fielder Ilyza Holman (Ashland, Mass.) ripped a two-RBI single to right field to plate junior first baseman Lexi Pederson (Chandler, Ariz.) and Arduini.

Sophomore shortstop Danielle Stratton's (Agawam, Mass.) single up the middle scored Holman and an error allowed Stratton to cross the plate (unearned) as freshman center fielder KK Palmerino (Glenmont, N.Y.) reached base on the miscue.

Junior second baseman Julia McNeill's (Smithtown, N.Y.) double to left field to brought around Palmerino as Endicott rallied to score five runs all with two outs in the bottom of the fourth to grab the Gulls' first lead of the day, up 7-4. 

Wellesley got two back in the top of the fifth on Locher's two-RBI single to center field as the Blue trailed 7-6 heading into the sixth.

Somerville was lifted in the sixth as senior pitcher Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) came on to induce a ground out for the first batter she faced before five straight singles set up the tying and go-ahead runs as Pisac and Tsang each drove in a run in the inning.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Arduini smashed her first career home run in the second inning and registered her first two career RBIs.
• Stratton led the Gulls with three hits, while Arduini scored a team-high two runs.
• Stratton's three hits was a season-high and tied her career-high in a single game.
• Blake was tagged with the loss (5-6) in two innings of relief as she allowed two runs on five hits and struck out one.
• Somerville got the no-decision in five innings in the circle (11 hits, six runs, two strikeouts).

FOR THE FOES

• Sophomore pitcher Madeline Bianchi (Lakeville, Minn.) picked up her ninth win of the season (9-5) as she tossed 3 1/3 scoreless/hitless innings with one walk and one strikeout in relief of Warner who went 3 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs (five earned) on eight hits, walked two and recorded two punchouts.
• The Blue out-hit the Gulls, 16-8 in this game.
• Manning went a game-high 4-for-4 with one double and two runs scored, including the winning run.
• Locher drove in a game-high four RBIs.

NOTES

• The Gulls are 1-7-1 all-time and 0-4-1 at home against the Blue dating back to March 22, 2007.
• Wellesley won, 10-6, in the most recent meeting before today on April 8, 2015.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (10-10, 3-3 CCC) hosts Eastern Nazarene College in a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCCC) doubleheader on Friday, April 15 at 3:00/5:00 p.m. Wellesley (12-10, 6-4 NEWMAC) plays at Wheaton in a NEWMAC doubleheader on Friday, April 15 at 3:00/5:00 p.m. 

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