Beverly, MA-- In the Gulls regular season conference finale, EC swept the visiting Curry Colonels, winning game one, 3-2 and the second 2-1. With the two exciting victories, the Gulls earned home field advantage, hosting the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament that starts this Wednesday.
In the first game, the score was knotted at zero after the 7th inning, forcing the contest into extra innings. The Colonels got it going in the top of the 8th. Pinch runner Victoria Palmacci started on second base advancing all the way home on a throwing error by the Gulls, also allowing Kim Sturgis to reach safely. Sturgis would later score on a Stacy Berard single to right field. This gave the Colonels a 2-0 cushion heading into the bottom of the 8th inning.
EC would not be denied the win, clawing back in the bottom half of the inning with two runs of thier own. Elyse Colby was placed on second, when Rachel Pearson smacked a double off the centerfield fence, advancing Colby to third. Missy Swymer was entered for Pearson as a pinch runner. With runners in scoring position, Megan Huckins hit a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Colby to tag from third cutting the lead in half. Katie Doherty followed with a single advancing Swymer to third. Swymer would tie the game at two on a close play at the plate after Nicole Reather hit a sacrifice fly.
The Gulls defense shut down Curry in the top of the ninth. EC's Morgan Finegan was placed on second in the bottom of the ninth, and would advance to third on an Ashley Labella single. Curry's left fielder tried to cut down Finegan at 3rd base, but the throw sailed wide and out of play allowing Finegan to score the game winner.
Pearson went 2-for-3, while Doherty was 2-for-4. Robyn Savitske earned her 18th win of the season and remained undefeated. She struck out ten batters and allowed only 2 hits in the win.
Beverly, MA-- In the nightcap against Curry, the Gulls completed the sweep with a 2-1 victory over the Colonels, scoring one run in each of the first and seventh innings.
The Gulls were on the scoreboard first. Paula McGinn started the bottom of the first with a single, and advanced to second on the play. McGinn stole third and scored when the Curry catcher threw the ball into left field, trying to catch McGinn.
Curry tied the game at one in the top of the second. The score remained at one a piece until the bottom of the 7th. Katie Doherty started the inning off with a single before being replace by pinch runnerChelsey Conant. With the bases loaded and one out, Paula McGinn's slow roller to third was thrown wildy to the plate as Conant scored the winning run for the Gulls.
Nicole Reather improved her record to 10-2. Reather allowed only 5 hits and 1 run while scattering 4 strikeouts. The team posts an overall record of 30-2-1, 21-1 in the CCC. The Conference Tournament begins this Wednesday.
