WALTHAM, Mass. – The Endicott softball team traveled to non-conference opponent Brandeis University on Thursday afternoon for a double header. The Gulls split with the Judges (11-9, 3-5 UAA), losing in game one 9-4 and coming back with the victory in game two 6-1. The Gulls improve to 9-3 (2-0 CCC) as they rest until Saturday when they travel to Western New England for a double header versus the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) at 12/2 PM.
The Blue and Green are currently sitting in the number one slot in the CCC rankings as they recorded their first conference victories yesterday over Wentworth in a double header.
Game One: Endicott 4, Brandeis 9
In game one sophomore Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) and senior Kelley Michael (Ipswich, Mass.) earned the RBIs for the Gulls, led by DiBella with two.
The first two innings of the game were scoreless for both sides. In the top of the third with Jess Linden (Stratford, Conn.) in scoring position Michael singled to third base to bring Linden home to take a 1-0 lead. With Brandeis up at bat in the bottom of the third, sophomore pitcher Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) allowed just one hit as she struck two Judges out swinging and forced a ground out to short to hold the lead.
Judges pitcher senior Melissa Nolan (Windsor, Conn.) answered back with a 1-2-3 top of the fourth which boosted Brandeis as they backed up the strong pitching with heavy offensive play scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
With Brandeis taking a 3-1 lead the eager Blue and Green squad worked the top of the fifth scoring three runs to take a one run lead. With the bases load and seniors Alex Moise (North Reading, Mass.) and Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) in scoring position at second and third DiBella singled to left field to push Moise and Bilafer home. Michael was able to cross home plate from first on a throwing error on the play to score the third run of the inning.
After another 1-2-3 inning by Nolan, the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Judges six runs to seal the victory. The inning was highlighted by a three run homerun by freshman Madison Hunter (Parker, Colo.).
Game Two: Endicott 6, Brandeis 1
In game two the Gulls were eager to tab a victory as they worked junior pitcher Nikki Cote (Shelton, Conn.) by scoring six runs on just nine hits. Controlling the circle was sophomore Katherine Clark (Taunton, Mass.) who hurled an entire seven innings while striking out six and allowing just one run.
Bilafer led the way with two ribbies as she blasted her first homerun of the season, also tabbing an RBI was sophomore Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) who also sent a ball over the fence for her first homerun of the season. Rookies Hannah Graney (Acton, Mass.) and Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) used their speed on the bag as each stole a base in the victory.
After three scoreless innings Hoffman homered to center field with Moise on base to take the 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth. After strong fielding in the bottom of the fourth for the Gulls Bilafer had her chance at a homerun as she blasted the ball to center field with Linden on base to nab her two RBIs.
The Blue and Green recorded two more runs in the top of the sixth and the top of the seventh to secure the victory.
