Regis Softball Ends Doubleheader with Tough Extra-Inning Loss

NORTHFIELD, Vt. – After losing the first game of a doubleheader Thursday, 10-0, Regis College battled into extra innings and took the lead in the second game, but Norwich University rallied for a 6-5 victory to complete the sweep in Great Northeast Athletic Conference softball action at the Norwich Softball Field.

GAME ONE: NORWICH 10, REGIS 0

Norwich (12-12, 6-6 GNAC) stranded two runners in scoring position in the first inning but took advantage of three Regis errors in the second inning, scoring eight runs. With the bases loaded, Madison Miller drove in two runs with a single, with a third run scoring on an error. The Cadets reloaded the bases later in the inning, Maggie Rasmussen drove in one run on a fielder's choice, and Kaylee Blanchard followed with a two-run single.

After another Pride error in the fourth inning, Rasmussen struck again, driving in Emily Oliver and Brittany Vandergroef with a single to center field. Oliver also pitched for the Cadets, allowing just two hits in five innings as she retired the final 12 Regis batters in order to force an early ending to the contest due to the run rule.

GAME TWO: NORWICH 6, REGIS 5 (9 INNINGS)

The second game of the twinbill was quiet until the bottom of the third inning when Makenna Wade led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Blanchard, and then came in to score on consecutive Regis errors.

Ellery Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) led off the top of the fourth inning with a triple and scored on an error by Norwich off a batted ball by Sarah Fawcett (Londonderry, N.H.). Fawcett would eventually score on a sacrifice fly by Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.), putting the Pride on top, 2-1.

After retiring the Cadets in order in the previous two inning, Regis starter Madi McLellan (Fremont, N.H.) allowed a leadoff single to Miller, who advanced to second on a wild pitch, reached third on a flyout by Elizabeth Niven, and scored the game-tying run on a single to left field by Naomi Rinaldo. Neither team scored in the seventh or eighth innings, forcing another extra frame.

With one out in the top of the ninth inning and the international tiebreaker in effect, Rasmussen singled, advancing Morgan LeBaron (Rehoboth, Mass.) to third base. Fawcett's single to left field drove in LeBaron, and Brianna Napoleone (Medford, Mass.) followed with a double to right-center field to bring in Rasmussen. Napoleone advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by LeBaron, extending the Pride advantage to 5-2.

With Dara Kelly on second to start the bottom of the ninth inning, Katie Reid singled to put runners on first and third. Rinaldo drove in Kelly with a single, and Oliver followed with a double that scored Reid and advanced Rinaldo to third base. Rinaldo scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, and then Oliver, who reached third on that wild pitch, scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Vandergroef.

McLellan allowed nine hits and six runs, four of them earned, in 8 1/3 innings of work, striking out four batters without walking anyone. Vandergroef started for the Cadets and gave up just two hits and two unearned runs in 7 1/3 innings before Oliver took over and pitched 1 2/3 innings as she received the victory.

Regis (4-28, 1-13 GNAC) closes out the regular season at home against Albertus Magnus Saturday, April 27, in a GNAC doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Before the first game, seniors Kelsey Grimard (Pelham, N.H.), Napoleone, and Allie Petillo (West Sayville, N.Y.) will be recognized in Senior Day ceremonies.