Softball falls to Rutgers-Newark and Hood College in pair of one run games
The MCLA Softball team dropped a pair of tight games, falling to Rutgers-Newark 6-5 in game one, before falling to Hood college 4-3 in the second game. MCLA is now 1-7 on the trip and returns to action on Friday.
MCLA dropped a pair today at the Rebel Games down in Kissimmee, FL. In game one MCLA lost to Rutgers-Newark University 6-5.
Sophomore Hadley Ameen (North Adams, MA/Drury) pitched all 7 innings, striking out four batters. The first and second innings moved slowly for the both teams, neither scoring any runs. It wasn’t until the top of the third when Rutgers-Newark loaded the bases, and eventually ended their offensive half with 3 runs scored.
In the bottom of the third MCLA junior second baseman Jaclyn Candelet (Pittsfield, MA/Taconic) scored the Trailblazer’s first run of the game. After singling up the 3rd base line, Candelet advanced to 2nd via freshman right fielder Kendra Hobbs’ single.
Sophomore catcher Kayla Koumjian (Watervliet, NY/Shaker) had the third consecutive hit for her team that inning after she made solid contact, letting the ball drop in a shallow centerfield gap scoring Candelet.
The Trailblazers continued to play tight defense, moving through the tops of the 4th and 5th rapidly and holding Rutgers-Newark where they were. In the bottom of the 5th inning with the score still 3-1, freshman Meg Boyer (Clarksburg, MA/Drury) who had been injured for the duration of her spring trip, was finally able to get her first base hit. Freshman Alayna Benedetti (Douglas, MA/Douglas) stepped in to pinch run for her, and scored MCLA’s second run. The Trailblazers went on to score four times in the inning, the big blow a two run double by junior short stop Katie Ouellette (Norwood, MA,/Norwood) giving MCLA the lead 5-3.
The lead stayed that way till the seventh inning when Rutgers-Newark was able to rally for three runs and hold on for a 6-5 victory.
In game two MCLA lost another tough one run game, this time to Hood College 4-3, putting them at 1-7 overall in their spring tournament. Freshman Sarah Greenwood (Northfield, MA/Pioneer Valley) pitched the first five and a half innings before being relieved by sophomore Ameen.
The Trailblazers came out strong in the first inning, scoring twice. Koumajian scored the first run off of sophomore center fielder Amber Coburn’s (Colrain, MA/Franklin Tech) double. MCLA went up 2-0 when Ouelette scored off a single to center by junior third baseman Amanda Borsotti (Lee, MA/Lee).
Hood also scored a run in the early innings, but the Trailblazer’s were able to keep them at bay with their superior defense until the bottom of the 5th. This was when Hood scored three times taking a 4-2 lead.
Giving it their all in the top of the 7th, the Trailblazers put forth a strong effort to score a couple of runs. The inning started with a nice single to center hit by Boyer, who after making it to first and was replaced by pinch runner Ashley Kelley (Turners Falls, MA/Turners Falls) . Sam Naring (Norwalk, CT/Brien McMahon) singled which advanced Kelley to second.
Candelet grounded into a double play, leaving the Trailblazers with two outs. Hobbs proceeded to crank out her first triple of the season, scoring Kelley and putting the tying run on third. The rally would fall just short when Koumjian grounded out to end the game.