LEICESTER, Mass.- The Becker College softball fell to Regis College 17-8 in New England Collegiate Conference playoff action Wednesday afternoon at Russell Field. The win lifts the Pride record to 10-18, while the Hawks season comes to end with a record of 16-19.
Regis got on the board in the top of first when Alyssa McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.) drove in Rachel DesRochers (Westford, Mass.) with a double into the left field gap.
The Pride added to their lead in the top of third with a pair of runs. After Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.) led off the inning with a walk, Rachel DesRochers laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Casello to third base. Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.) followed with a single to right field, scoring Casello to make the score 2-0. After a pass ball allowed Garvey to scamper into scoring position, Alyssa McKinnon drove in her second run of the game with a single up the middle. The Pride would load the bases, but Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) stuck out the next two batters to keep the Hawks within striking distance at 3-0.
The Hawks took advantage of Regis miscues in the bottom of the third inning to take 5-3 lead. Becker loaded the bases on a single, a walk and an error. Katherine DiMascio (Braintree, Mass.) put the Hawks on the board when reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) to score from third. Ashley Ciepiela (Adams, Mass.) reached on a throwing error, which allowed Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) and Jessica Brochu (Hardwick, Vt.) to score, tying the game at 3-3. Melissa Rhodes followed with an RBI bunt single to give the Hawks 4-3 advantage. Marlena Karavolis (McMurray, Pa.) capped off the five running inning with a single up the middle, plating Ciepiela from third.
Becker added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth when Jessica Brochu belted a two-run homerun to centerfield to put the Hawks up 7-3.
The Pride mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth when they scored ten runs to take 13-7 lead. Kirbie Garvey got the inning started with a leadoff single. Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) helped her own cause by smacking a single up the middle, pushing Garvey up to second base. After Rachel Tortora (Malden, Mass.) loaded the bases with two outs, Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) tied the game with a grand slam to right center. The Pride kept the line moving with a Michaela NeJaime (Sanisfiled, Mass.) walk and a Jenna Casello single. After a pass ball moved both runners into scoring position, Rachel DesRochers gave Regis a 9-7 lead when she with a single to left field. After Kirbie Garvey was hit by a pitch, Alyssa McKinnon roped a double into the right centerfield gap, scoring DesRochers to make put Regis up 10-7. Katie Cuozzo followed with a three-run blast to left field to increase the Regis lead to 13-7.
Regis put four insurance runs on the board in the top of the seventh inning to take 17-8 lead before the game was called off due to rain.
Jessica Wheelahan led the Hawks going three for three, moving her within one hit of her 100th. Jessica Brochu chipped in with a two hit performance, while driving in and scoring a pair of runs.
The Pride return to action on Friday, May 2 when they play Newbury College at 12:00 p.m. in the second round of the NECC softball tournament. The remainder of the tournament will be played at Regis College.
