April 21, 2013
Barron Leads Softball to Daniel Webster Sweep
LEICESTER, Mass. – Senior catcher and team captain Talan Barron (Methuen, Mass.) led host Becker College to a sweep of visiting Daniel Webster College In NECC softball action Sunday afternoon at Russell Field, winning 8-4 and 6-3. The Hawks of Becker are now 18-10 and 12-2 against conference opponents while the Eagles of Daniel Webster drop to 11-19 and 6-8.
Barron put the Hawks on her back in game one, going three-for-four with two home runs and five RBI. Barron got the ball rolling in the bottom of the first, crushing a three-run homer to left-center. The Eagles got one back in the top of the second on a solo shot from senior designated player Theresa DiSantis (Hinsdale, Mass.), putting the score at 3-1. In the bottom of the second, Becker took advantage of Daniel Webster miscues to score three more runs, including an RBI single to left from sophomore designated player Megan Cordon (Watertown, Conn.). In the top of the fourth, the visitors added another run when junior third baseman Courtney Brennan (Beverly, Mass.) scored from third off a passed ball, but Becker quickly took that run back in the bottom of the inning when Barron came through again with an RBI base hit, and the Hawks were up 7-2. Down five in the top of the sixth, Daniel Webster attempted to rally with a two-run homer to left center from senior centerfielder Chelsey Crawford (Westfield, Mass.), and the Becker lead was suddenly very vulnerable at three runs. Once again, the Hawks would turn to Barron, their senior captain, who blasted a solo shot over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth. Becker closed out the Eagles in the top of the seventh to preserve the win.
Becker freshman pitcher Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) collected her 100th career strikeout in the top of the third, and went the distance, striking out five in seven innings for her eleventh win of the season. For Daniel Webster, freshman Sara Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) took the loss, despite striking out four Hawks in six innings. Becker freshman centerfielder Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) went three-for-four, twice crossing home plate and playing strong defense.
In the second game, the Hawks again jumped out in front in the first on RBI base hits from Cordon and sophomore shortstop Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.), going up 2-0. Becker tacked on a third run in the bottom of the second when sophomore shortstop Jessica Brochu (Hardwick, Vt.) scored from third on an error. In the third inning, Barron came through again as she drove in Wheelehan with a double, and Bolduc soon followed with an RBI fielder's choice that brought Barron in from third, as the Hawks went up 5-0. Wheelehan showed off her speed in the bottom of the fifth, reaching third on a single and an error before an RBI sacrifice fly from Cordon brought her home, Becker's sixth run of the game. In the top of the seventh, the Eagles attempted to rally. Crawford hit an RBI single to score Brennan and two more runs came in on a base hit to centerfield by freshman second baseman Mollie Bartles (Torrington, Conn.). But Cordon posted the last two outs to end the game, giving the Hawks their twelfth conference win in their last thirteen NECC games.
Cordon was sensational pitching through six innings, totaling eight strikeouts. After a lead-off walk to start the game, the sophomore did not allow a base runner up until the seventh. Daniel Webster freshman pitcher Dallas Fonck (Enfield, Conn.) struck out one Hawk in six innings. Bolduc went two-for-three with two RBI while Cordon finished two-for-two at the plate, also brining in two runs. Wheelehan went two-for-three, scoring three times.
Barron now has eleven career home runs, one short of the Becker NCAA record of twelve.
Up next for Becker, the Hawks hosts Pine Manor College in a conference double-header beginning at 3:00 p.m. Daniel Webster will host Mitchell, also on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
