May 9, 2007
BEVERLY, MA - The Endicott College softball team earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament after capturing the 2007 Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship.
The Gulls defeated Roger Williams 8-0 in five innings last weekend winning their fifth consecutive CCC championship and grabbing the conference's automatic bid. EC will now head to Providence, RI for the NCAA Regional Tournament hosted by Rhode Island College. The Blue and Green will open up with a first round game against Keene State College Thursday May 10 at noon.
Endicott (30-10) makes its fifth straight trip to the NCAA's and has posted a record of 4-8 all time in the national tournament. The Owls (26-7) earned an at-large bid after being eliminated from the Little East Conference tournament in the semifinal round by regional host and top seed Rhode Island College.
Keene State returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005 when it reached the Regional Final. KSC has reached the Regional Final in each of its last four NCAA appearances (1999, 2000, 2003 and 2005).
The Gulls have won 20 of their last 25 games and boast one of the regions toughest lineups. The Blue and Green are lead by All-CCC three, four and five hitters Danielle Sargent (Sabattus, ME/Oak Hill), Meghan Sargent (Salisbury, MA/Triton) and Rachel Pearson (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard).
CCC Player of the Year Meghan Sargent has paced the Gulls offense all season long hitting .439 (47-for-107) with 40 runs scored, 15 doubles, nine home runs and 50 RBI. She also posted a .832 slugging percentage and a .536 on-base percentage as she racked up 89 total bases, and 27 walks while striking out just six times in 40 games.
All Conference outfielder, Danielle Sargent had a phenomenal season moving up from the nine spot to the three-hole in the batting order. Sargent hit .389 with 39 runs scored, 10 doubles, six home runs and 30 RBI. She also was 4-for-5 in stole base attempts and played excellent defense in both leftfield and centerfield making just two errors in 37 games.
Pearson, the All-CCC Designated Player, was an equally integral part of the EC offense. Pearson split time behind the plate with Meghan Sargent and hit .365 with 22 runs scored, seven doubles, eight home runs and 42 RBI.
The strength of the Gulls lineup does not rest solely with its middle three hitters however. Endicott also boasts a speedy lead-off hitter in Paula McGinn (Lynn, MA/Lynn Classical) and one of the top two hitters in the conference in Jenna Lazar (Milton, MA/Milton). All-CCC second teamer, McGinn hit .289 with 18 runs scored and 10 RBI. She also was 5-6 in stolen base attempts.
Lazar, an All-CCC second team selection at shortstop, hit .342 in her rookie season. She also led the team with 44 runs scored and 27 walks. The freshman also posted a .465 on-base percentage and went 11-13 in stole base attempts.
Endicott possesses more than just a powerful lineup as the Gulls have a very unique pitching staff. EC sent four starting pitchers to the circle with regularity during the regular season forgoing the conventional one or two starter rotation. The Gulls have shortened their rotation for the post-season but have four very capable pitchers in Jenn Elwell (Tewksbury, MA/Shawsheen Tech), Robyn Savitske (Hellertown, PA/Saucon Valley), Jackie Collier (Swampscott, MA/Bishop Fenwick) and Maria Mangine (Lockport, NY/Lockport)
Elwell, the 2006 GNAC Pitcher of the Year transferred to EC from Suffolk and has made an immediate impact. The junior went 12-2 on the year with a conference best 1.53 ERA in 19 appearances. In 94 innings Elwell allowed just 16 earned runs and walked 18 batters while striking out 76. She was recently named both the CCC and ECAC Pitcher of the Week after leading the Gulls to their fifth CCC Championship by going 3-0 with a 0.00 earned run average in Endicott's three tournament games.
Senior Robyn Savitske was the Gulls strike out queen as she rung up 82 batters in just 78 innings. The senior posted a record of 8-5 in 16 appearances with a 4.27 ERA. She will be a vital part of the Gulls success as this marks the fourth trip to the NCAA's for the 2005 All American.
Collier and Mangine will most likely see action out of the bullpen as they posted 6-1 and 4-2 records respectively as the Gulls three and four starters. Collier was second on the team with a 2.74 ERA as she allowed 13 runs in 42.2 innings, walking 13 while striking out 37. Mangine was just as effective posting a 2.91 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 34 innings.
The Owls who rely more on the typical two pitcher rotation are also very strong on the mound. Ashlee Nicholson () posted a 13-1 record in 19 appearances. In 94 innings she allowed 20 runs while striking out 106 batters and posting a 1.49 ERA. Erin Fuoroli () also had a strong year posting a 1.62 ERA and an 11-4 record in 18 appearances. In 99.2 innings of work she allowed 23 runs and 12 walks while striking out 85.
KSC also boasts a strong line up with five players that have 15 or more RBI on the year. Katie Allenson () has led the offense hitting .390 with three home runs and a team high 26 RBI. Jenna Patnode () as also been impressive hitting .356 with 26 runs scored, four doubles, 10 triples, two homers and 22 RBI. She also went 15-for-19 in stolen base attempts.
Thursday's game will be a match up of two impressive coaches as Owls coach Charlie Beech has amassed 498 wins over his 22 years at KSC while Endicott's Mark has totaled 340 wins in his 13 year tenure at EC.
The Gulls and Owls will take the field for a noon time first pitch on Thursday May 10 in their opening round match up with the winner moving on to play Friday May 11 at 2 p.m. and the loser going on to play Friday at 10 a.m. All games will be played at Rhode Island College. Tickets are five dollars for adults and two dollars for students/senior citizens per day.
