March 21, 2008
OSCEOLA, Fla. - The Endicott College softball team closed out their Florida trip Thursday, defeating MCLA by a score of 11-2 at Osceola Park in Osceola, Fla. The Gulls finish the trip with an 8-1 record.
Endicott got it going early in the first inning, as senior Paula McGinn (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Classical) drew a leadoff walk. She was followed by shortstop Jenna Lazar (Milton, Mass./Milton) who slashed a single, taking second when the throw went to third in an unsuccessful attempt to cut down McGinn. Senior Danielle Sargent (Sabattus, Maine/Oak Hill) then hit a ground ball to short that looked like a sure out, but an errant throw left Sargent standing at second, with both McGinn and Lazar scoring on the play. After a wild pitch moved Sargent to third, senior Rachel Pearson drove her in with a ground ball, giving the Gulls a 3-0 advantage after one.
Endicott starter Maria Mangine (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) cruised through the first two innings before running into some trouble in the third. With two outs and nobody on, Mangine surrendered three straight hits. Freshman Ashley Morrison (Pownal, Vt./Mt. Anthony Union) go it started with a double to right, and was driven home on a single to left by junior Deanna Trumble (Adams, Mass./Hoosac Valley). First baseman Kate Malloy (Clarksburg, Mass./Drury) then followed with another single, moving Trumble into scoring position. An Endicott error would allow Trumble to score, cutting the Gulls' lead to 3-2.
That would be as close as the Trailblazers would get, as the Gulls exploded in the bottom of the fourth. EC scored eight runs on five hits, getting some help from three Trailblazer errors. The offensive outburst included back-to-back triples by junior Casey Shanley (Billerica, Mass./Billerica Memorial) and third basemen Dottie Bartsch (Salisbury, Mass./Triton Regional). The Gulls would head back out to the field owning a comfortable 11-2 lead.
Mangine set the Trailblazers down in order in the top of the fifth, giving Endicott the 11-2 win by way of the mercy rule.
Magine earned the win for the Gulls, improving her record to a perfect 3-0 on the season. She went five innings giving up just one earned run on four hits while striking out six. Danielle Sargent led EC offensively, going 2-3 with two runs scored. Casey Shanley chipped in going 1-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Dottie Bartsch went 1-2 contributing two runs scored and an RBI.
Sophomore Maggie Kucharski (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) took the loss for MCLA, giving up 11 runs on eight hits and six walks. The Trailblazers were led offensively by Deanna Trumble, who went 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the loss.
The win improves the Gulls' record to 8-1 thus far on the season. Endicott will return to action on Wednesday when they play a double-header against Western New England College in Springfield, Mass. Game times are scheduled for 3 and 5 p.m.
