Posted: May 03, 2012
NEWPORT, R.I. – Facing elimination in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Softball Tournament, the Gulls kept their title hopes alive behind a seven-inning shutout pitching performance by freshman Cam Sprague (Clifton Park, N.Y.) in game one over Eastern Nazarene and a four-inning relief victory over Western New England in game two.
Endicott now moves on to face the top seed Salve Regina on Saturday, May 5th at 10:00 am after the Seahawks lost to the University of New England. Back on April 24th, the Gulls and Seahawks split their reuglar season doubleheader with Endicott taking game one 7-0 before falling 7-3 to game two.
Game One: \#2 Endicott 5, \#8 Eastern Nazarene 0
Box Score
Sprague struck out seven batters in first postseason collegiate pitching appearance and improved to 5-6 on the season. Endicott now moves on to face the winner of Roger Williams and Western New England which was being played concurrently with the Gulls/Lions match up.
Offensively, Endicott got two RBIs from junior outfielder Byrne Katz (Trumbull, Conn.) and two hits apiece from Katz, Colleen Martin (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and Alexandra Moise (North Reading, Mass.). Moise and Martin also got two-out RBI hits in a three-run bottom of the third after Moise singled home freshman Jess Linden (Stratford, Conn.) and Martin followed with an infield single that allowed Moise to score from second base. Later in the inning, Katz got the first of her two RBIs on a rope to left that plated Martin.
The Gulls would tack on a run in both the fourth and fifth innings in support of Sprague’s effort in the circle. A sacrifice bunt by Linden advanced Shelby Phillips (Taunton, Mass.) but an error by the first baseman allowed Phillips to trot home. One inning later, Katz hit another RBI single to left to score Martin to cap off the scoring at 5-0.
Endicott battled 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position while recording three two-out RBIs. On the basepaths, Endicott swiped two bags, one by Moise and the other by sophomore Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.).
Endicott improved to 21-16-1 on the season with the victory.
Game Two: \#2 Endicott 6, \#6 Western New England 2
Box Score
Sprague followed up her game one performance with another victory, this time in relief as she pitched the final four innings to send Endicott in the Saturday portion of the tournament.
Leadoff batter Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, Conn.) went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead Endicott over the Golden Bears. Russo cracked a two-RBI double with the score tied 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning to put Endicott ahead for good in this game. Earlier in the fourth, Linden's ground rule double down the right field line plated Krista Fales (Melrose, Mass.) who reached on a double of her own to start a two-out rally.
Endicott added a sacrifice fly by Katz and an RBI single by Moise in the fifth and sixth innings to cushion their lead over Western New England.
Martin's sacrifice fly to deep centerfield scored Russo in the bottom of the third to put the first run on the board for the Blue and Green.
Western New England scored their two runs in the first and third innings off RBI hits by senior Sara Barnes (Berkley, Mass.).
Endicott's Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) allowed both Western New England runs through three innings of work before giving way to Sprague who went four innings, allowing no runs on five hits and no walks while striking out one.
