Saturday, April 13, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts)- The Mount Ida College softball team split a doubleheader with the Saints of Emmanuel College on Saturday afternoon with Emmanuel taking Game 1 by a score of 6-3 while the hosts would earn the conference win 4-3 in the Game 2 finale. With the doubleheader split, the Mustangs move to (11-19, 4-12 GNAC) while the Saints go to (10-17, 4-12)
Game 1
The Saints would start off the top of the first inning with a single off the bat of Jenna Marcello (Hopedale, MA) that would advance Kayla Howard (Belmont, NH) to second all while Kelly Lloid (Issaquah, WA) and Catherine Davis (Wethersfield, CT) would score, giving the Saints a 2-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the first. Emmanuel starting pitcher Kelly Lloid would retire the Mustangs in order and head into the top of the second unscathed.
Emmanuel started off the top of the second much like the top half of the first scoring two more runs and taking a 4-0 early lead. Davis and Julia Levins (Uxbridge, MA) would score on a single to center off the bat of Lloid, good for her only two RBI's of the game. Lloid would again retire the side in order in the bottom half of the second, frustrating the Mustangs bats.
To begin the top half of the third, Mustang senior pitcher Devan Meeker (Bantam, CT/Litchfield) was able to retire the side after giving up a leadoff single off the bat of Marcello. Marcello was then caught stealing second for the first out of the inning. Marianne Halas (Lynn, MA) reached safely on an errant throw by the leftfielder and was able to advance to second. Kerianne Vulpis (East Rockaway, NY) was the second out of the inning by way of the K. Levins would end the inning on ground out to second base. Mount Ida would be retired in order in the third as Kaitlyn Berube (Fall River, MA/Diman regional) popped up to shortstop, while Meghan Moriarty (Holbrook, MA/Holbrook) grounded out to the pitcher and Meeker struck out swinging to end the third.
Emmanuel would be held scoreless again in the fourth frame as Davis led off the inning with a single to center, before Jennifer Garrity (Lynn, MA) was put out at first for the first out of the inning. Lloid popped up to shortstop and Howard flied out to center to end the inning. The Mustangs got on the board in the fourth when Tiffany Hamman reached on an error by the third baseman and then reached second on a wild pitch. Cassie Durand (Dracut, MA/Dracut) singled to center scoring Hamman, and cutting into the lead 4-1 in favor of the Saints. Kirsten Guerrero (Fairfield, CT/Fairfield Ludlowe) grounded out to second for the first out of the inning while Durand advanced to second. Gina Onorevole (Lafayette, NJ/High Point Regional) flied out to center and Megan Hall (Danielson, CT/Killingly) struck out to end the inning.
Alex Bressette (North Easton, MA) popped up to second for the first out of the inning leading off the top of the fifth. Marcello singled to left field and then stole second. Halas would double to right center scoring Marcello and increasing the Saints lead to 5-1. Vulpis grounded out to the pitcher and Halas advanced to third on the put out at first. Levins reached on an error by the second baseman while Halas would score from third. Levins eventually stole second and would be stranded there while Davis ended the inning on a line drive to third. Nickole Soto (Marlboro, MA/Assabet Valley Regional) led off the bottom half of the fifth with a strike out before Berube would single up the middle. Berube was replaced at first by Chase Courbron (Monroe, CT/Masuk). Moriarty would line out to second for the second out of the inning. Meeker would then single to right center and Courbron would advance to third. Hamann reached on an error by the pitcher, Meeker advanced to second, and Courbron scored. Durand doubled to left field, Meeker scored and Hamann would reach third. Guerrero walked and Onorevole reached on a fielder's choice, with Guerrero reaching second, while Durand was tossed out third.
After five innings of play, Emmanuel led the Mustangs by a score of 6-3 heading into the sixth inning of play. Both teams would go scoreless in the final two innings of play, ending the game by a final score of 6-3 in favor of the Saints.
Mount Ida was led at the plate by Meeker who went 2 for 4 with one run scored while Durand also notched two hits in four plate appearances notching two RBI's. Hall and Berube had the other two hits in Game 1 for Mount Ida. Meeker would take the loss going the distance while allowing six runs, five earned, on 13 hits, all while walking and striking out two. Lloid was the Game 1 winner, pitching seven strong innings allowing three runs on six hits, walking one, and fanning four.
Game 2
Emmanuel started Game 2 with a Davis single up the middle to begin the top half of the first. Garrity would pop to first base for the first out of the inning. Lloid was hit by a pitch and Davis advanced to second on the HBP. Kayla Howard (Belmont, NH) would hit into an infield fly good for the second out of the frame while Marcello would fly out to center to end the inning. Meeker started out the bottom of the first with a single down the left field line and the later stole second base, eventually reaching third on a passed ball. Hamann reached on an error by the shortstop while Meeker scored giving Mount Ida the early 1-0 lead. Hamann stole second before Durand grounded out to second base while advancing Hamann to third. Guerrero bounced one to second scoring Hamann and Onorevole grounded out to short to end the inning with the Mustangs on top 2-0 after one.
Emmanuel and Mount Ida both came to the plate in the second inning while neither team was able to record a hit or run.
The Saints responded in the top of the third when Levins singled to first base and then stole second on the very next pitch. Davis flied out to left field for the first out of the inning. Levins was able to move up to third on a wild pitch. Garrity flied out to center scoring Levins from third and cutting the hosts lead in half, 2-1. Lloid would then fly out, ending the inning for Emmanuel. Meeker began the third reaching on an error by the first baseman and advancing to second on the errant throw. Hamann had an infield single and Meeker was able to advance to third. Hamann was picked off at first when she left early on an attempted steal for the first out of the inning. Durand flied to center scoring Meeker for the 3-1 lead. Guerrero recorded an infield single before Onorevole singled to right advancing Guerrero to second. Soto would single to right center scoring Guerrero and moving Onorevole to third. Moriarty flied out to right center to end the inning for the Mustangs before taking a 4-1 lead after four innings of play.
Neither team would plate a run through the sixth inning until the top half of the seventh came along and Bressette led off the inning with an infield single to get things going for the visitors. Halas reached on a bunt single while advancing Bressette to second. Vulpis would come to the plate and ground out to the pitcher, moving over Halas to second and Bressette to third. Levins grounded out to first base for second out but Bressette would score and Halas would reach third. Davis singled to shortstop while Halas scored, making the score 4-3 in favor of the Mustangs. Lloid reached on a fielder's choice but Jackie Murray was forced out at second base to end the game and the threat.
The Mustangs would take Game 2 by a final score of 4-3. The Mustangs were led at the plate by Durand, Guerrero, and Soto who all recorded one hit and an RBI apiece. Meeker, Hamann, Onorevole, and Hall would also all add hits for the hosts. Allie Norris (Plymouth, MA/Plymouth South) earned the victory going seven innings while allowing three runs on nine hits, walking none and fanning one. Val Kiers (West Warwick, RI) took the loss for the Saints going six innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on six hits, walking two and striking out two.
Mount Ida will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon, April 16th when the host the Gators of Pine Manor College with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m. Emmanuel will get back to work Wednesday, evening against MIT with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.