LEICESTER, Mass. – The Hawks and Bison split a Sunday doubleheader from Russell Field but in the process, senior Sarah Ellis (Berkley, Mass.) set the program record for doubles in a career while Head Coach Dick Hurley won his 150th career game at Becker.
THE BASICS
March 21, 2021
Russell Field
Becker Hawks 1-3
Nichols Bison 3-3
GAME ONE: Nichols 3 – Becker 2
The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first with junior Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn.) on a two-run home run to left-center field. Hawks junior Elizabeth Simonian (Auburn, Mass.) led off with a walk, providing the two-RBI homer for Veillette.
Becker threatened again in the bottom of the second, loading the bases with one out, but the Bison got out of the inning with a strikeout of Simonian and a pop out by Veillette as Becker held their 2-0 lead.
Nichols struck in the top of the fourth with sophomore Allie Brown (Middlebury, Conn.) scoring on a throwing error by the Hawks, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
The Bison tied things at 2-2 in the fifth thanks to an RBI double to left-center field by junior Samantha Kostek (Oxford, Conn.). Pinch-runner, junior Courtney Schullery (Warren, Conn.), scored from second on the RBI double, tying the game.
Another RBI double in the top of the sixth off the bat of freshman Hailey Bogusz (Montague, Mass.) would put Nichols ahead 3-2. Bogusz hit the ball solid to left-center field, scoring Brown from second base to give the Bison their first lead of the afternoon.
Becker had a chance in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off with a victory, loading the bases with two outs.
Freshman Sheree Fallon (Danvers, Mass.) came to the plate and hit a sharp line drive that required a diving catch by Bison shortstop, senior Colleen Callahan (Billerica, Mass.), a catch the ended the game, as Nichols held on to the 3-2 win.
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For Nichols, Brown batted 2-for-3, both singles, with two runs scored. Kostek finished 2-for-4 in the opening game.
For Becker, senior Sarah Ellis (Berkley, Mass.) finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. Veillette's two-run home run is her first of the season.
Winning Pitcher: Candice Nelson (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Ashley Veillette (0-2)
GAME TWO: Becker 6 – Nichols 5 (Final / 8 Innings)
In the bottom of the eighth and the game tied 5-5, Ellis stepped to the plate and lined a double to the right-center field fence, scoring freshman Kayla Dell'Anno (Medford, Mass.) from second to give the Hawks a 6-5 extra-innings win.
Becker had to come back from a 4-1 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Using a two-run home run by Veillette and a sacrifice fly by freshman Jilliana Stevens (Farmington, N.H.), the Hawks tied the game 4-4 to force an eighth inning.
The Bison were off and running in the top of the first thanks to a three-run home run by grad student Taylor Commesso (Hingham, Mass.). Back-to-back singles earlier in the inning put two runners on for Commesso's homer to center field, giving the Bison a 3-0 lead.
The Hawks answered back in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by sophomore Holly Letourneau (Woonsocket, R.I.). Veillette scored from second base on the single to center field, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Nichols reestablished their three-run lead in the top of the fifth inning on a solo home run by Kostek. The homer cleared the left-field fence to put the Bison ahead 4-1.
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For Becker, Veillette, Ellis, and sophomore Lindsay Mitchell (Billerica, Mass.) all had two hits in the second game. Ellis had a pair of doubles and in the process set the all-time program record for doubles in a career, a record that now sits at 40.
For Nichols, Commesso batted 2-for-3 with four RBI. Brown scored two runs for the Bison in game two.
Winning Pitcher: Lindsay Mitchell (1-1)
Losing Pitcher: Crystal Nelson (0-1)
