WENHAM, Mass. – Endicott senior pitcher Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) tossed a no-hitter against Gordon College on Wednesday evening to highlight the Gulls' doubleheader sweep over the Fighting Scots. Endicott won game one by a 3-0 score before taking the nightcap, 7-5 (8 inn.), in comeback fashion.
GAME 1 – Endicott 3, Gordon 0
Blake only needed 92 pitches (60 strikes) to record the first no-hitter of her collegiate career on Wednesday. Blake began the outing by retiring eight straight batters before finishing the contest with a season-high nine strikeouts (two walks).
Gordon's Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) took the loss (1-6) on seven innings of work, six hits, three runs (two earned), three free passes, and one strikeout.
Tied 0-0 in the top of the sixth inning, Endicott finally broke open the scoreless matchup against the Fighting Scots with two runs on two hits. KK Palmerino (Glenmont, N.Y.) walked to lead off the inning, while pinch-runner Stephanie Cameron (Milford, Conn.) stole second before Margaret Martzolf (Port Saint Lucie, Fla.) scorched a line drive single to left field with two outs to plate Cameron from second for the would-be game-winning run.
Samantha DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) went on to pad the lead later in the inning with an RBI double to right center, which scored pinch-runner Kayla Sheldon (Burlington, Mass.).
The Gulls added their final run in the seventh when Chrissy Gikas (Danvers, Mass.) notched an infield single to third base that scored Jamie Corda (Higganum, Conn.).
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Blake retired the side in order on five separate occasions throughout the game (1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th).
- Blake's career-high for strikeouts is 10 (Gordon – 4/01/15).
- Cameron swiped a career-high two stolen bases in the game one win.
FOR THE FOES
- Sarah Ryder (Telford, Pa.) and Alyssa Unumb (Bedford, Mass.) both recorded walks in the loss.
GAME 2 – Endicott 7, Gordon 5 (8 inn.)
Blake earned the win (4-3) in relief by blanking Gordon over the final 3 2/3 innings after entering the game in the bottom of the fifth with one out and the bases empty. Laura Somerville (Suffield, Conn.) was dealt the no-decision on 4 1/3 innings, seven hits, five runs (all earned), one walk, and four strikeouts.
Kline picked up the loss (1-7) in relief (3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K), while Abigail Knowlton (Deer Isle, Maine) shouldered the no-decision on five innings, five hits, five runs (three earned), five walks, and two punchouts.
Tied 5-5 in the top of the eighth, Corda gave the Gulls a 7-5 lead when she ripped a two-run double to the left center gap to score Danielle Stratton (Agawam, Mass.) and Cameron. Blake immediately shut the door in the bottom half of the inning with three straight outs, which included two ground outs and a strikeout, to close out the sweep for the Gulls.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott rallied from two separate deficits in the game (5-3 Top 6th | 3-0 Top 3rd).
- Trailing 5-3 in the sixth, Olivia Odermatt (Cheshire, Conn.) scored on a passed ball, while Palmerino knocked home the game-tying run with an RBI ground out.
- In the third, Julia McNeill (Smithtown, N.Y.) notched a run-producing single to left center before Martzolf cranked a two-run shot to left field to even the score, at the time, at 3-3.
- Cameron finished the doubleheader sweep with a walk, two runs scored, and three stolen bases.
FOR THE FOES
- Marissa Meenan (Wayne, Pa.) launched a solo homer in the first, while Ryder connected for a solo shot in the fifth.
- Gordon also scored two runs in the second inning when Emily Burkhart (Manheim, Pa.) walked with the bases loaded and Meenan lifted a sacrifice fly to right field.
- Ryder, Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.), and Carleigh Peterson (North Hills, Calif.) all had multi-hit games in the game two loss.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (7-5, 2-0 CCC) hosts Thomas (Me.) on Thursday, March 31 at 3/5 PM. Gordon (2-9-1, 0-2 CCC) welcomes Rivier to its campus for a doubleheader on March 30 at 5/7 PM.
