SALEM, Mass. — The Endicott softball team split a non-conference doubleheader at host Salem St. University Tuesday afternoon at Alumni Field as the Gulls took Game 1, 8-6, before falling, 9-8, in eight innings in the nightcap.
GAME ONE: ENDICOTT 8, SALEM ST. 6
Tied 3-3 heading to the fourth inning, Endicott put up a three-spot thanks to an error allowing senior third baseman Lindsee Allienello (East Providence, R.I.) to score one of her game-best three runs in the contest, followed by sophomore center fielder Olivia Odermatt's (Cheshire, Conn.) two-RBI single to give Endicott a 6-3 lead and the Gulls never looked back.
Sophomore pitcher Laura Somerville (Suffield, Conn.) earned the win (3-4) as she went four innings and allowed just three runs (two earned) on six hits with three walks.
Freshman reliever Michaela Hamill (Lynn, Mass.) picked up her first career save in three innings of scoreless relief as she scattered two hits, two walks, and fanned a game-high four batters.
GAME TWO: SALEM ST. 9, ENDICOTT 8 (8 INN.)
A 7-0 Endicott lead through the first three and a half innings disappeared as a three-run rally for the Vikings in the bottom of the seventh forced the game to extra innings.
Endicott pushed across the go-ahead run in the eighth, but the hosts plated two to walk off with the victory as both runs scored due to costly errors.
Sophomore relief pitcher Mikaela Mallozzi (Shelton, Conn.) was dealt the loss (1-1) in walk-off fashion as she entered the game in the fourth inning and preceded to give up all nine runs (four earned) in the defeat.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Allienello went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, three runs scored, and drew two walks in Game 1 to lead the Gulls.
- Junior designated player Emily Sharpe (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) was a perfect 4-for-4 from the dish (one double) with one RBI and one run scored in Game 2 for the first time in her career tallying four hits in a single game.
- Endicott is 0-1 in extra-innings this season and appeared in its third game that ended in a walk-off (Gulls were on the winning side two times in Florida.)
- Endicott out-hit Salem St., 15-7, in Game 2, but made five errors to the hosts' clean slate.
FOR THE FOES
- The Vikings have now won three of their past four games.
- Salem St. is 2-0 in extra innings this season, as both wins were 9-8 conquests in the 8th inning.
- Vikings' junior starter Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) picked up two decisions today to move to 9-3 on the year, taking the loss in Game 1 by surrendering five runs (three earned) on four hits to go alongside three free passes in 3 1/3innings pitched, and earning the victory in Game 2 with six strong innings out of the bullpen with this line: (10 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO).
- Senior center fielder Jess Raymond (Peabody, Mass.) went 2-for-3 (one triple) with one RBI, two runs scored, and a pair of stolen bases in Game 2.
- The Vikings hit a season-high three triples in Game 2.
- Sophomore pinch runner Dahlia DeCologero (Woburn, Mass.) scored the winning run for the Vikings.
NOTES
- The Gulls are 9-3-1 in the all-time series against Salem St. dating back to the 2000 season.
- Endicott won Game 1, 10-2, before tying 6-6 in the Game 2 twin bill in the most recent meeting before today on April 8, 2014 in Beverly, Mass.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (7-13, 2-6 CCC) welcomes Gordon College to its campus on Wednesday, April 12th for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader at 3:00/5:00 p.m.
Salem St. (14-6, 3-1 MASCAC) hosts UMass Dartmouth in non-conference action on Wednesday, April 12th at 4:00/6:00 p.m. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit — Matt Connelly)