Softball Splits Doubleheader With Anna Maria

PAXTON, Mass. - Regis College split with Anna Maria in Thursday afternoon's non-conference doubleheader against the AMCATs at the AMCAT Softball Field, taking game one, 7-1, and dropping game two, 10-9.

GAME ONE: Regis 7, Anna Maria 1

Ciara Collins (Lynn, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the second inning and advanced to third on a double to right-center field by Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.). A Bri Page (New Boston, N.H.) walk loaded the bases for Alex Page (New Boston, N.H.) who drove in a run on a fielder's choice, leaving runners at first and third. Two more runs were scored after a walk by Abby Erickson (Worcester, Mass.) loaded the bases for the second time in the inning, followed by Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.) and Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.) getting hit by back-to-back pitches to put the Pride on top, 3-0.

Collins hit a single to left field to lead off the third inning and was driven in on a fielder's choice by Zancan who advanced to third on a throwing error and would later tag up and score from third on a pop fly by Braga. Erickson drove in the Pride's sixth run off a single to left field which allowed Bri Page, who had walked earlier in the inning, to score from third.

In the fourth inning, Collins reached first on a single through the left side of the infield and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. She later scored from third on another passed ball.

Colby Butterfield (Gilford, N.H.) earned the victory as she started the game and pitched four innings, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six batters. Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) pitched the final three innings, giving up just two hits to preserve the victory.

The AMCATS scored their only run in the bottom of the fourth when Madison-Marie Romano reached first on a wild pitch after striking out. Michelle Cilley singled to left field and Rory Hughes walked to load the bases followed by a passed ball which allowed Romano to score from third.

GAME TWO: Anna Maria 10, Regis 9

Regis wasted no time in game two, as the offense started with back-to-back singles by Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) and Braga to set up Collins who tripled to score both runners. Collins later scored from third after the Anna Maria catcher dropped strike three and threw down first to record the out.

Anna Maria got a pair of runs back in the bottom of the first, scoring on a walk by Hughes with the bases loaded followed by an RBI single by Paige Stewart to cut the Pride lead to one (3-2).

The AMCATs took the lead the following inning, scoring two off an RBI double by Romano and added to their lead in the third off an RBI single by Aine Manning to put Anna Maria on top, 5-3.

Regis battled back in the top of the fourth with a lead off single by Erickson and walks by Nichols and Braga loading the bases for Petrarca and Collins who put the ball in play to score a pair of runs, tying the game at 5-5.

Burke walked to lead off the sixth inning followed by back-to-back doubles by Petrarca and Collins to score a pair of runs and retake the lead for the visitors. With runners on second and third, Bri Page doubled to score two more runs and put the Pride on top, 9-5.

Anna Maria scored four runs in the bottom of the inning off an RBI single by Romano and a fielder's choice by Cilley. Later in the innings, Hughes singled through the left side of the infield to score a pair of runs and tie the game at 9-9.

The home team walked off in the bottom of the seventh inning off a double by Romano with the bases loaded to drive in a game winning run.

Regis College (6-11, 0-2 GNAC) plays a non-conference doubleheader against Emerson on Tuesday, April 11, beginning at 3 p.m.