Softball Outslug NEC in 12-11 Road Win

HENNIKER, N.H. – The MCLA Softball team took to the road this afternoon to meet up with the New England College Pilgrims. While the Pilgrims were celebrating their senior class, it was the Trailblazers who went home celebrating after senior pitcher Sarah Williams picked up her first career extra-base hits and RBIs, knocking a second-inning home run and a third-inning RBI double as part of MCLA's 12-11 non-conference win.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024
• Score: MCLA 12, NEC 11
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 9-21 (MASCAC 1-9) | New England College Pilgrims 9-21 (GNAC 3-9)

HIGHLIGHTS

• MCLA opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the first inning, making the most of an error that allowed Hailey Peabody to reach. Peabody then stole both second and third, setting runners at the corners when Maddy Teta walked. An RBI single down the left field line by Ella Staffier scored Peabody and moved Teta around to third base. Teta then scampered home on Madyson Torres' ground ball back to the pitcher.
• NEC responded with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame to take a 4-2 lead after one inning. In the second inning, starting pitcher Sarah Williams helped her own cause by driving a 1-2 pitch to left field for her first career home run, cutting the Pilgrims' lead in half.
• After the Pilgrims responded with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning, the Trailblazer's offense exploded with seven runs in the top of the third inning. Hannah Mitchem evened the score at six, all with a bases-loaded double to right-centerfield that scored Kristie Zator, Maggie Closinski, and Torres. Williams then traded places with Mitchem with a double into right field. Williams then traded places again, this time with Peabody, who pulled a double to left field.
• NEC chipped away at the Trailblazers' lead with three runs in the third and one in the fifth inning to tie the game back up at 10 all.
• In the top of the sixth inning, MCLA retook the lead for good with a pair of runs against new pitcher Olivia Olson (L, 8-11). Closinski welcomed Olson into the game by working a four-pitch walk. Zator followed up by beating out an infield single to the shortstop. Both Closinski and Zator moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch.
• Closinski then scored on Justina Pardi's ground ball to the third baseman when the catcher forgot that the force was no longer in play and didn't tag Closinski. The bad luck for the Pilgrims' catcher continued when the next batter, Cinderella Khoury, popped a foul ball up for the catcher, but the catcher's throw down to chase Zator back to the bag went high and wide, allowing Zator to bring home an insurance run. An insurance run that would be needed after NEC scored one in the bottom of the sixth.
• Peabody (W, 1-2) threw four innings of four-hit ball in relief of Williams, striking out two to pick up her first collegiate win. Olson struck out three in only two innings but still took the loss.

UP NEXT:

On Wednesday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to SUNY Cobleskill for a non-conference matchup with the Fighting Tigers. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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