WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – The Endicott softball team played a triple header of regional games down at the Dot Richardson Spring Games this morning. The Gulls went 2-1 on the day with victories over Plymouth State and Southern Maine while they dropped their second game of the season to Amherst. Overall the Blue and Green will move into the last day of the tournament, tomorrow at 5-2.
Game One: Plymouth State 6, Endicott 9
In game one the Gulls resumed their play from 3/17 against the Panthers after their game was postponed in the top of the fourth due to rain. Before the delay the Blue and Green held a 7-1 lead which was highlighted by rookie Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) who homered twice in the three innings while she also earned three RBI's.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the third after a Couto home run sophomore Jamie Corda (Higganum, Conn.) walked which brought sophomore Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) home. On a throwing error by the Panthers shortstop Endicott brought three more across the plate to end the inning with six total runs.
When play resumed today freshman Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) started off the bottom of the fourth with a double that brought teammates DiBella and freshman Lexi Pederson (Chandler, Ariz.) home making it an 9-1 score.
After two scoreless innings from both sides and great pitching from Endicott's senior, Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) Plymouth State was able to nab two runs but they were not enough as the Gulls came out with the first win of the day.
O'Connor pitched a solid seven innings where she saw 32 batters while striking out seven.
Game Two: Amherst 9, Endicott 1
In their second regional game of the day against NESCAC opponent Amherst the Blue and Green struggled at the plate as they only let off six hits while being struck out seven times.
The Gulls lone run came in the top of the third when senior Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) at the plate with junior Jess Linden (Stratford, Conn.) and freshman Ilyza Holman (Ashland, Mass.) in scoring position. Bilafer singled to bring Holman home but Amherst's freshman pitcher Jackie Buechler (San Diego, Calif.) was able to retire Couto and DiBella back to back to end the inning with a 3-1 lead.
The fifth inning was where Amherst picked up five of their nine runs to secure the win in just five innings of play.
Game Three: Endicott 4, Southern Maine 0
After a few hours break the Gulls entered game three rested up and ready to take the field as junior Meg Donegan (Atkinson, N.H.) took the circle and pitched a solid seven innings only allowing five hits while picking up four strikeouts on 29 batters faced.
The first inning was stacked with defensive miscues by the Huskies as the Blue and Green scored three of their four runs. The first came from Linden who got herself in scoring position as she stole third and was then able to take advantage of a pass ball to find home plate early. With Bilafer in scoring position senior Alex Moise (North Reading, Mass.) singled to bring Bilafer home to claim the only RBI of the inning. After two more pass balls Moise was able to advance to third base and then took home on a final pass ball to end the inning.
The Huskies were able to fend off the Gulls until the sixth inning where DiBella singled to earn an RBI bringing Corda home to secure the 4-0 victory. Donegan wrapped up the shutout to earn her first victory of the season.
Endicott will be back in action tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. when they face Hamline for the final game of the Dot Richardson Spring Games.
