BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team hosted Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Roger Williams on Friday night. In game one, the Gulls defeated the Hawks 2-0 with strong efforts from sophomore Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) while three ribbies from senior Kelley Michael (Ipswich, Mass.) in game two helped lift the Gulls to a 7-0 victory. With the two-game sweep Endicott improves to 20-7-1 (12-2 CCC) while the Hawks fall to 18-14 (11-7 CCC).
Prior to the start of today's two-game tilt the Endicott softball program celebrated their five seniors, in Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.), Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.), Alex Moise (North Reading, Mass.), Alli Noyes (Tewksbury, Mass.) and Kelley Michael (Ipswich, Mass.). All five of these players have contributed so much to the softball program over their four years and we wish them the best of luck on their future endeavors.
Game One: Endicott 2, Roger Williams 0
In game one, O'Connor controlled the circle posting five strikeouts on 29 batters faced while only allowing six hits and zero runs. With her efforts O'Connor improves to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the CCC. Her counterpart sophomore Meghan Maliga (Suffield, Conn.) also posted strong numbers hurling six innings while allowing just six hits on 25 batters faced.
Michael was stellar at first base in game one as the senior recorded 11 putouts, followed by three from both Noyes and freshman Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.).
In the first inning the Blue and Green got on the board early after a 1-2-3 top of the first by O'Connor. With Moise on third DiBella singled up the middle to advance her home. After four straight innings of zero runs for both sides, DiBella stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth and cranked an insurance run as she recorded her fourth homerun on the season, a team high.
O'Connor closed out the top of the seventh in four plays, forcing an out from third to first, a groundout from short to first, a walk and a final third out from second to first.
Game Two: Endicott 7, Roger Williams 0
In game two, sophomore Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) posted another great contest in the circle as she improves to 7-0 on the season. Blake recorded an impressive 49 strikes on 66 pitches, while allowing just five hits on 26 batters faced.
The Gulls started the scoring early in the bottom of the first as Michael singled up the middle with runners on base to bring Moise and Bilafer across home plate. Sophomore Jaime Corda (Higganum, Conn.) then ripped a double to left center to bring DiBella around the bases to end the inning on top 3-0.
After a full 1-2-3 second inning for both pitchers, the Blue and Green continued their scoring in the bottom of the third. The first came from Michael as she cranked a double to bring Couto home. Corda followed suit by hitting her second consecutive double to left field to send Michael home to take a 5-0 lead.
Endicott posted two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to secure the victory. DiBella singled up the middle to allow fast runners in Moise and Bilafer to reach home.
Blake closed out the game allowing just two hits in the remaining three innings for the Hawks as the Gulls rolled to the 7-0 triumph.
The Blue and Green will see action next on Monday, April 21st when they travel to CCC foe Salve Regina for a doubleheader at 4/6 PM. The Hawks will take the field next on April 23rd as they host Framingham State for a non-conference doubleheader.
