May. 1, 2005
Beverly, MA - The Endicott Gulls defended their Commonwealth Coast Conference Title by defeating the Roger Williams Hawks 5-4 in extra innings. The Gulls rallied back from a three run deficit in the bottom of the 8th, winning the 2005 CCC Championship game.
In the bottom of the 4th, the Gulls struck first with a run off of a Hawk shortstop error. Senior co-captain Elyse Colby reached third on the error, and would cross home plate, as the ball rolled out of play, giving the Gulls the one run lead.
Roger Williams would battle back in the 6th with a run of their own. Senior Jenn Browne singled in the tying run for RWU. However, with a heads up play by the Gulls defense, EC prevented a second run from crossing home plate. Left fielder Laura Schack connected with Colby, who relayed the ball to catcher Megan Young, tagging out the runner at home. The Hawks would try to score again, but the Gulls tough defense would not allow RWU to cross home plate. Base runner Nikki Houser would attempt to score off of a Callie Nealon single. Third baseman Katie Doherty scooped up the Nealon single, and threw out Houser at home. The final out of the inning would be at home plate again. The Hawks attempted to execute a double steal, but once again, the Gulls had a heads up defensive play. EC was able to force pinch runner Rachel Fleury into a run down. The Gulls came out on top in the run down, completing the final out of the inning.
The game was forced into extra innings, as the score was knotted at one a piece. The top of the 8th saw three Hawk runs cross home plate, giving RWU the three run lead going into the bottom of the 8th. The Gulls rallied back as they scored four runs off of three hits. Megan Huckins started the rally off with an infield single. Doherty reached on an error by the shortstop, which advanced Huckins into scoring position. A second error by the RWU shortstop off of a Laura Schack grounder, loaded the bases for the Gulls. Sophomore Nicole Reather smacked a single to left field, bring in Huckins from third. Ashley Labella doubled, tying the game at four, as Doherty and Schack crossed home plate. Colby stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded, and ripped a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Reather, the winning run, to tag from third.
Robyn Savitske earned her 21st win of the season, remaining undefeated. She struck out five Hawk batters, and only allowed two earned runs.
The Championship Title is the third in a row for the Gulls, who earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. EC goes into the Tournament ranked 8th nationally, posting a 33-2-1 record. The National Tournament begins May 13th.