Pride Control Both Games in Convincing Sweep at Norwich

NORTHFIELD, Vt. -- The Regis College Pride softball team closed out its regular season slate on the road in Vermont, traveling to face Norwich University. The Pride's offense powered the day, securing 10-2 and 14-5 victories to complete the sweep and improve to 13-21 overall and 9-9 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play.

Game One, Regis 10-2 Norwich

Francesca Licata opened the game with a single, and the inning quickly showed promise as the Pride put multiple runners on with a pair of walks. Despite the early pressure, the Cadets' defense held firm, stranding three and keeping Regis off the board. The Pride matched that effort in the home half of the first, as Madi Zancan made a heads-up play on a ground ball to get the runner at home for the second out, before Kate Julian recorded a strikeout to end the inning with runners in scoring position.

Regis broke through in the third. Lynsey Kay reached with a single, followed by a double from Mel Rees to bring her home. Rees later scored on a hit from Zancan, and Avery Simpson added an RBI single up the middle to cap a three-run frame and give the Pride a 3-0 lead.

Julian and the defense preserved that lead in the fourth, working out of a bases-loaded jam. Julian picked up a key strikeout for the first out, then fielded a ground ball and fired home to Simpson, who helped turn a clutch double play to end the threat.

The Pride added to their advantage in the fifth with another three-run inning, highlighted by a Samantha Kelepouris double, a Zancan single, and help from a Cadets miscue. In the sixth, Zancan and Simpson tallied their third and second hits of the game, respectively, each driving in a run to extend the lead to eight.

The Cadets got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from Emily Munson, but that would be all, as Julian responded by striking out the next two batters to close out the inning.

However, the Pride continued to build their lead, as a two-RBI double from Samantha Kelepouris plated Lynsey Kay and Sydney Grund, pushing the advantage to nine - their largest of the game. The Cadets added one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but Madi Zancan and Grace Motto combined for the final out to seal the 10-2 victory.

Game Two, Regis 14-5 Norwich

The Pride picked up right where they left off to open Game 2, exploding for nine runs in the first inning. The early surge was highlighted by back-to-back two-RBI knocks from Mary DeMerchant and Kassidy Griffin, followed by Mel Rees, who plated two more with a single to cap off the offensive outburst.

The Cadets answered in the bottom half with a pair of doubles that led to five runs, keeping the game high scoring early at 9-5 after one inning.

DeMerchant and Griffin stayed hot in the second, each collecting their second hits of the game and combining to drive in three more runs, extending the advantage to 12-5.

In the third and fourth innings, Kate Julian and Mel Rees each added RBIs, with Rees delivering another double, pushing the lead to 14-5. The score would hold through the fifth inning as the Pride closed out the run-rule victory to complete the sweep.

Inside the Numbers

• Kate Julian recorded her 100th career strikeout in game one, with her sixth of the contest.
• Madi Zancan had a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs in the opener. Samantha Kelepouris also delivered at the plate, driving in a team-high three runs - marking the third time this season she has reached that total.
• Mary DeMerchant turned in a career day, finishing 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Kassidy Griffin recorded her first collegiate double, first multi-hit game, and first RBIs of her career, finishing with three driven in.
• In the circle for Game 2, Mel Rees earned the win, while also going 3-4 at the plate with three RBIs to cap off the Pride's dominant sweep.

Up Next

The Pride will enter GNAC postseason play this Wednesday, April 29 with a game at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) at 3:30 p.m.