Lyons drop twinbill at Endicott to complete regular season slate

April 19, 2008

BEVERLY, MA- The Wheaton College softball team completed its regular season slate on Saturday, falling twice in non-conference action at Endicott College, 5-2 and 6-5. The Lyons fell to 28-12 but will hold down the second seed in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Tournament, which begins on Wednesday when Wheaton hosts a three-team doubleheader. Number-three Springfield College and sixth-seeded Smith College square off at 2:30 p.m., with the winner facing the Lyons in the nightcap.

Endicott, which is 28-3 after extending its winning streak to 15 games, fell behind the visitors in game one, as freshman Rachel Merrick's (Methuen, MA/Central Catholic) RBI groundout in the fourth inning put the Lyons on top. Wheaton senior Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) had little difficulty with the Gull offense during the first four innings, yielding just one hit while fanning six, before the hosts scored four times with two down in the fifth. Senior Rachel Pearson's (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) three-run double was the key hit.

The Lyons put two runners on with one out in the sixth but could not score, and Endicott added a run in the home half. In the seventh, junior Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield) slugged her second home run of the year to create the final margin.

Senior Erika Marini (Pawtucket, RI/Saint Raphael Academy) went 2-for-3 for the Lyons, while Moynagh suffered the loss after yielding four runs on four hits in five innings, fanning seven and walking three. For Endicott, sophomore Megan Downey (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) was 2-for-2. Senior Jenn Elwell (Tewksbury, MA/Shawsheen Tech) allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Lyons rallied for a seventh-inning lead before succumbing to a Gull comeback in the home half. Down 4-3 with just one out to go, Marini singled through the left side before junior Stacey Kelleher (Brockton, MA/Brockton) slugged her fifth home run of the season to put Wheaton ahead, 5-4. However, all five of Endicott's hitters reached in the bottom of the inning, with sophomore Merry MacDonald (Braintree, MA/Braintree) ripping the game-winning RBI single.

Wheaton also jumped on top first in the second game, as freshman Kristen Hunt's (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) RBI single with two down in the second inning made it 1-0. From there, Endicott scored single runs in the second and third before plating two in the fourth. Down by a 4-1 count in the top of the sixth, two Lyons came home during the frame, with the first scoring on an error and another on freshman Katy Salka's (Ayer, MA/Ayer) pinch-hit single.

Kelleher finished 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI for the Lyons, Marini was 2-for-4 with two runs, and senior Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) added two base knocks. Bagley suffered the loss, allowing four earned runs in six-plus innings with four strikeouts and three walks. For Endicott, MacDonald and junior Casey Shanley (Billerica, MA/Billerica Memorial) had two hits apiece. Freshman Jenna Bortolotti (Milton, MA/Milton) allowed three runs, but one earned, on eight hits in five-plus innings before giving way to sophomore Maria Mangine (Lockport, NY/Lockport), who picked up the win after two innings of relief despite blowing a save.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 4/23/08.
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