Softball Splits on Final Day in Myrtle Beach

LITTLE RIVER, S.C. - After falling 7-1 to Hilbert College to open the day, the Regis (Mass.) softball team salvaged a split with a 10-0 win in five innings over Wentworth to round out the team's 2018 Myrtle Beach Spring Break trip.

With the split, the Pride's Spring Break trip comes to a close with a record of 4-4. The four wins on a Spring Break trip is the most for Regis softball since 2008, when the Pride went a program record 5-3.

The day started off well for the Pride, as it took just three pitches in the top of the first inning for the team to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Junior Kelsey Grimard (Pelham, N.H.) doubled over the head of the Hilbert first baseman, and advanced to third base on a throwing error to lead off the ballgame. On the very next pitch, freshman Kayla Pieta (Middletown, Conn.) drove in Grimard with a sac fly to right field.

That would be the extent of the Pride's offense for the game, however, as Hilbert pitcher Marisa McIntyre (Alder Creek, N.Y.) was locked in. In the complete game win, McIntyre would allow just two hits, both off the bat of Grimard, and no earned runs to improve to 2-2 on the season. Hilbert tied the score in the bottom of the first inning, and scored runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, avenging a 3-1 win by the Pride that opened the trip on Sunday. Sophomore Madi McLellan (Fremont, N.H.) was tagged with the loss, throwing 3+ innings and allowing two earned on six hits.

The offense that had been absent in the opener was apparent from the start in game number two on the day, as the Pride put up a 10-spot in the second game against Wentworth. The Pride collected three runs in the first inning on two poorly timed wild pitches from Wentworth's Brionna Myers (Seabrook, N.H.), allowing Grimard, Pieta, and Alexa Nejaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) to cross home plate and give the Pride a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning. 

The Pride was back at it again in the second inning, putting three more runs to take a commanding 6-0 lead. With two away and the bases loaded, Nejaime smacked a base hit to center to score Grimard and Alyssa Rossillo (Sudbury, Mass.). One batter later, Brianna Napoleone (Medford, Mass.) drove in Ellery Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) on an infield single to extend the Pride's lead.

For the third consecutive inning, the Pride would score three more insurance runs in the third inning. Again with two away, the Pride put together a rally, as Rasmussen, Allie Petillo (West Sayville, N.Y.), and Nejaime all picked up consecutive RBI singles to extend the lead to 9-0. Rasmussen would drive in one more run in the top of the fifth inning for added insurance, and McLellan was lights out in the circle to secure the win. The sophomore allowed just three hits to pick up her first shutout of the season to improve to 4-4.

The Pride returns to the field on March 22 with a doubleheader at Regis Field against Eastern Nazarene. First pitches are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

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