Beebe's Gem Leads Softball Past Babson, 4-1

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott softball team defeated Babson, 4-1, on Tuesday afternoon behind Kristen Beebe's (Brentwood, N.H.) 10-strikeout start against the Beavers.

WP (8-2): Kristen Beebe (Brentwood, N.H.) — 6+ IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 10 K
LP (4-2): Katie Vlacich (Concord, N.H.) — 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
SV (3): Analise Grady (Reading, Mass.) — 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

The Gulls jumped out in front right away thanks to a solo shot from Abby McClaflin (Easthampton, Mass.) over the left field fence.

Then, two innings later, Dani Lear (Groveland, Mass.) added a solo shot to deep left center field off of the rocks to make it a 2-0 ball game through three.

As Beebe continued to shut down the Beavers' bats, the Gulls doubled up on their lead thanks to a Babson misplay in the infield during the fifth inning.

Up 4-0 in the top of the sixth, Beebe faced her toughest task of the day, as Babson loaded up the bases with just one out. However, the sophomore escaped the bases-loaded jam without allowing a run after her 10th strikeout of the day and a foul pop out to Lear behind the dish.

In their last ups, Babson again loaded up the bases, and this time forced Beebe out of the game with no outs in the top of the seventh. Grady entered, and after inducing a quick groundout (which scored the only Babson run of the day) followed by a double play (1-3-2 GDP), the Gulls wrapped up the home victory.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Gulls nearly leveled the all-time series between the two teams (Babson leads 15-14-1). 
• Beebe's 10 strikeouts tied a career high (3/17/24 vs. Amherst).
• McClaflin's homer was her fourth of the season (fourth career). Lear's was her first of the season (second career).
• Both McClaflin and Lear also had multi-hit games.
• The Gulls need just one more in-conference win (three games remaining) to secure the one-seed in the Conference of New England (CNE) Tournament, which begins next week.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (19-12) resumes its halted game from April 15 against Suffolk (4 PM). Babson (21-12) visits Clark University on Wednesday, April 30th for a doubleheader at 12PM/2PM.  

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(Photo Credit - Bradley Griffin '28)