Softball Sweeps Dean in GNAC Doubleheader

WESTON, Mass. – Regis College rallied from early deficits in both ends of Thursday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference softball doubleheader, defeating Dean College, 11-3 and 7-4, at the Regis Softball Field.

GAME ONE: REGIS 11, DEAN 3

After a pair of scoreless innings, the Bulldogs struck first with three runs in the top of the third. Sari Albury singled in Miranda Seacord. Alex Marie then knocked in a run with a single to right. Albury was brought home on a single by Bridget McDonough to give Dean a 3-0 lead.

Regis got two back in the bottom of the third on an Erin Murphy (Bedford, N.H.) sacrifice fly and a Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.) RBI single. The Pride took a 4-3 lead in the fourth when Murphy hit a two-run single to center, driving in Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) and Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.).

In the fifth, Regis scored seven times to end the game via the run rule. Madison Smith (Malden, Mass.) had a pinch-hit single that scored two, while Murphy added two more RBIs on a single up the middle. Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.) secured the early victory for the Pride with a two-run single through the left side.

Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.) led the Pride with three hits, while five other Regis batters finished with two hits apiece as the team notched a season-high 16 hits. Murphy ended up with five RBIs, with Collins and Smith driving in two runs each.

After Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) pitched the first three innings, Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) came on in relief and allowed just one hit and one walk in two innings to earn her second victory of the season.

GAME TWO: REGIS 7, DEAN 4

Dean (2-15, 1-7 GNAC) again scored first as, in the top of the second inning, Jaylee Martinez drove in Sarah Graeff with a single to right-center field, followed by a single by Miranda Seacord that scored Zoe Coleman. Braga led off the bottom of the second inning with a double and came around to score on a single by Collins to cut the Bulldog lead in half to 2-1.

Regis took the lead in the third inning with four runs, starting with a Dean error that allowed Abby Erickson (Worcester, Mass.) to reach base and eventually score on a single by Murphy. Murphy later scored on a wild pitch, Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) came home on a single by Collins, and an RBI groundout from Beland brought in Smith.

Jilian Glynn (Londonderry, N.H.) pitched the first 5 1/3 innings before Petrarca took over in the circle with the bases loaded. Seacord drew a walk that forced in Graeff, followed by a single by Marie to score Madison Mayo and bring the Bulldogs within one at 5-4. Gianna Bencivengo hit a grounder back to Petrarca, who started a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning and keep the Pride on top.

Regis would add two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the first coming on back-to-back doubles by Burke and Erickson. Murphy would follow with a single that brought home Erickson for Murphy's seventh RBI of the day.

Petrarca allowed a leadoff single in the seventh inning before getting the final three outs for her second save in as many appearances. Glynn collected her second victory of the season, giving up eight hits, one walk, and four runs while striking out four batters.

Collins was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game with two RBI and Murphy ended up 3-for-4 with one run scored and two runs batted in. Marie led the Bulldogs with three hits as Dean outhit Regis in the game, 10-9, but the visitors left nine runners on base.

Regis (8-15, 4-4 GNAC) returns to action next Wednesday, April 20, to resume the doubleheader against Lasell that was suspended last Saturday, April 9. The halted game will be picked up at 5 p.m. with the Pride leading 6-0 in the second inning, followed by the second game of the twinbill that was postponed.