Softball Splits Opening Day Games

CLERMONT, Fla. – After losing a back-and-forth contest in extra innings to Saint Vincent College, 9-8, Regis College took the early lead in its second game of the day and held on to defeat Chatham University, 8-6, Sunday afternoon in non-conference collegiate softball action at the Legends Way Field Complex.

Regis 8, Chatham 6

Regis was patient at the plate to start the game as the Chatham starting pitcher struggled with her control, walking the first three Pride hitters. After a popout, Erin Murphy (Bedford, N.H.) was hit by a pitch to force in Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.), and Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.) drew a walk that scored Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.).

Chatham (1-1) changed pitchers, but Nikki Papadopoulos (Coventry, Conn.) drew a walk to force in Ellery Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) with the third run of the inning. The Pride finally picked up a couple of hits, as Sarah Fawcett (Londonderry, N.H.) and Morgan LeBaron (Rehoboth, Mass.) each drove in a run with a single to extend the Regis advantage to 5-0.

The Cougars quickly answered back in the second inning, as Emily Nay singled and came around to score on a double by Alyssa Hoffman. Hoffman would come home on a single by Danaya Carbajal to cut the Pride lead to 5-2.

In the top of the fourth inning, pinch hitter Katie McClelland sent a shot down the left field line for a triple, scoring Hoffman. McClelland would come home on an infield single by Caitlin Worwood to bring the Cougars within one at 5-4 halfway through the game.

Chatham threatened to tie the game in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a leadoff single, but Regis successfully turned a 6-4-3 double play to stop the threat. In the bottom of the inning, the Pride loaded the bases on two infield singles and a walk, and then pinch runner Sarah Monahan (North Andover, Mass.) was able to score on a Cougar error to provide her team one insurance run. Rasmussen followed with a single that drove in LeBaron and Braga to extend the Regis lead to 8-4.

Lauren Haak led off the seventh inning with a single and came around to score on a one-out double by Justine Boyle. With two outs, Boyle was able to hustle around third and score on an infield single by Julie Swedberg, but, after a walk drawn by Hoffman, Rasmussen was able to catch a pop-up to close out the game.

Madi McLellan (Fremont, N.H.) earned the win after pitching the first four innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while striking out three batters. Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) finished the game by working the final three innings, giving up five hits and two runs with two strikeouts as she earned the first save of her collegiate career.

Fawcett and Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) led the Pride with two hits apiece as the Regis offense combined for seven hits and six walks.

Saint Vincent 9, Regis 8 (8 Innings)

Braga and Morrill drew consecutive walks to leadoff the game, advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Rasmussen. The Pride would eventually load the bases, and Emma Kelly (Lynnfield, Mass.) drove in Rasmussen with a single to center field, extending the Regis lead to 3-0.

Saint Vincent (1-1) quickly responded in the bottom of the first, loading the bases on two singles and a walk before a single by Kelsey Tobin drove in two runs. Mary Maceda led off the bottom of the second with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and came around to score on a single by Monica Gourley to tie the game at 3-3.

Regis loaded the bases in the top of the third and took advantage of a Bearcat mistake, as Collins and Kelly scored on an outfield error. With two outs, Rasmussen laced a double, driving in Alex Page (New Boston, N.H.) and Braga to increase the Pride lead to 7-3.

The Bearcats cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the third as Abbey Ginter led off with a triple, Kaylee Ludwick followed with a walk, and both players scored on a two-out single by Justina Sirohman. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Tobin walked, and Ginter followed with a game-tying home run. Shae Robson reached on a Regis error, stole second base, and came around to score on another Pride miscue, putting the Bearcats on top after four innings, 8-7.

Ward, now pitching in relief of starter Petrarca, helped her own cause in the fifth inning by reaching on an infield single, advancing to second on a single by Braga, and scoring on a single to left field by Morrill. In the bottom of the fifth, Ward got out of a bases-loaded jam by starting a 1-2-3 double play and then inducing a popout to keep the game tied at 8-8.

Neither team was able to score in the sixth and seventh innings, forcing extra frames with the international tiebreaker. After Regis could not take advantage of having runners on first and third with one out in the top of the eighth, Saint Vincent was able to bring Sydney Tressler home on a groundout and a bunt by Tobin to walk off with the win.

Braga and Rasmussen led the Pride with three hits apiece as Regis totaled 13 hits and five walks, but the Pride left 14 runners on base. Petrarca allowed seven hits, four walks, and five runs in the first three innings before Ward pitched the final 4 1/3 innings, giving up five hits, two walks, and four runs.

Regis (1-1) continues its Spring Break stretch of games Monday, March 2, taking on Saint Mary's University of Minnesota at 10 a.m. and Fontbonne University at 12:15 p.m.