Pride Softball Outlasts Mass Maritime for Doubleheader Sweep

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – Similar to Friday's doubleheader sweep, Regis College received solid pitching and timely hitting in one game and outlasted its opponent offensively in the other game, as the Pride swept Massachusetts Maritime Academy, 6-3 and 10-9, Monday evening in a non-conference collegiate softball twinbill at Rollins Field.

GAME ONE: Regis 6, Mass Maritime 3

Regis jumped on the board right away, as leadoff hitter Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) took advantage of a Buccaneer fielding error in the outfield and raced around the bases to score the first run of the game. Mass Maritime tied the game in the bottom of the second inning as Reagan Kerecz drove in Rubi Butler with a two-out single up the middle.

The game remained tied until the top of the fifth inning when the Pride loaded the bases on a walk, a hit batter, and an infield single. Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.) drove in Burke and Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.) with a single to left-center field, and Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) followed with a single down the left field line that drove in Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) and Morrill.

The Pride added another run in the top of the sixth inning as with two outs Braga singled, advanced to second on another Buccaneer error, and came around to score on a double by Morrill. Mass Maritime attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh as Ab'c'de Patane hit a two-run home run, but the home team could not come any closer.

Colby Butterfield (Gilford, N.H.) pitched her second straight complete game, allowing eight hits, four walks, and three runs while earning a career-high eight strikeouts. Morrill led the Pride offensively, going 2-for-4 with one run scored and three RBI.

GAME TWO: Regis 10, Mass Maritime 9

With Regis down, 9-8, Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.) led off the top of the seventh with an infield single. Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) came on as a pinch runner, advanced to second on a groundout, and took third when Bri Page (New Boston, N.H.) reached on a Buccaneer error. After Page stole second, Marissa Allen (Coventry, R.I.) laced a single through the right side of the infield to score both Nichols and Page and put the Pride on top.

In the bottom of the seventh, Petrarca, who had moved from first base to the pitching circle in relief of Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) in the fifth inning, retired Mass Maritime in order to earn her second victory of the season.

Mass Maritime (10-8) struck first with three runs in the bottom of the first inning, but Regis responded in the top of the second inning, starting with an infield single by Beland, who then beat the throw to second base on a grounder hit by Page. After a sacrifice bunt by Ward, Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) drove in Beland with a single, and Page would score on a misplay by the Buccaneer defense. Burke drove in Zancan with a single to center field, tying the game at 3-3.

The Buccaneers retook the lead in the bottom of the third inning, but the Pride again struck back on their next at-bat, as Ward reached base on an error, advanced to second on a single by Zancan, and scored on a double to left-center field by Burke. Kelsey Booker would hit a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth to put Mass Maritime back on top, 6-4.

Regis put together its second four-run inning of the night in the top of the fifth inning, as Petrarca led off with a walk and Morrill followed with a single. After a Buccaneer error put runners on second and third, an infield single by Beland drove in Petrarca.

Beland stole second base, and Page followed with a single to left field that scored both Morrill and Beland to put the Pride on top, 7-6. Page reached second on a groundout and scored on a single by Zancan to increase the Regis advantage to 8-6.

Butler led off the bottom of the fifth with a triple and, after Petrarca replaced Ward in the pitching circle, scored on an RBI groundout by Jennamarie Klemp. Petrarca retired the next two Buccaneer batters to end the fifth, but the home team scored twice in the sixth inning to pull ahead, 9-8.

Zancan led the Pride offensively by going 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI. Beland and Burke each batted 2-for-4 in the game, with Beland scoring twice and Burke driving in two runs.

Regis College (4-6) opens Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with a doubleheader at Lasell Wednesday, March 29, beginning at 3 p.m. The Pride will then host Fisher College Friday, March 31, starting at 4 p.m.