Softball's Offense Explode in Game 1 En Route to Sunday Doubleheader Split with Le Moyne
Links: Box Score (G1) | Box Score (G2) | Gibbs Postgame Comments
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Playing on its home diamond for the first time this season, the Merrimack College softball team exploded for a season-high 12 runs in Game 1 en route to a Sunday doubleheader split with Le Moyne. Merrimack took the opener, 12-2, in six innings before falling by a 3-1 tally in the late game.
The Basics
Score (G1): Merrimack 12, Le Moyne 2 (F/6)
Score (G2): Le Moyne 3, Merrimack 1
Records: Merrimack (12-16, 5-6 NE-10) | Le Moyne (12-9, 5-5 NE-10)
Location: Warrior Softball Diamond | North Andover, Mass.
How It Happened
After falling behind by a run in the top of the second of Game 1, Merrimack scored 12 of the game's final 13 runs en route to a six-inning, mercy-rule-shortened victory in Sunday's opener.
In the bottom of the second, senior Becca Armstrong (Methuen, Mass.) drew the Warriors even after scoring on a wild pitch before senior Stephanie Lapierre (Berlin, Conn.) plated classmate Lindsay Gibbs (Acton, Mass.) on an RBI base knock to center, and moments later, fellow senior Courtney Ulak (Rehoboth, Mass.) dropped a perfect squeeze bunt to bring in Lapierre, giving the Warriors a 3-1 lead after two frames.
An inning later, sophomore Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) drove in another run and an errant throw resulted in one more crossing on the same play; before that inning ended, senior Armstrong brought home Currie on a sacrifice fly to give the hosts a 6-1 advantage.
The Warriors crept closer to the mercy-rule range after Lapierre smashed her second home run of the season – and just the second of her career – in the bottom of the fifth to make it an 8-1 lead. Le Moyne would get a run back in the top of the sixth, but Gibbs ended the game in the home half of the inning with a grand slam to seal the 12-2 victory.
Merrimack's bats were much quieter in Game 2, however, as Le Moyne starter Alexis Eastman went the distance while only allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out eight of the 26 batters she faced.
The Dolphins took a one-run lead on a solo homer in the top of the second before freshman Brooke Gubala (Raynham, Mass.) executed a perfect squeeze bunt to tie the game. Le Moyne benefited from the long ball again to take the lead for good in the top of the fourth and added an insurance run in the top of the fifth thanks to a bases-loaded walk issued by Merrimack.
Inside The Numbers
- Junior Alexis Perry (Westford, Vt.) was brilliant in Game 1, tossing six innings with six strikeouts and only one earned run allowed on eight hits
- Freshman Megan Cook (Bellingham, Mass.) took the loss in Game 2 despite some strong numbers; she fanned five with no walks and four hits allowed over 4-1/3 innings before giving way to classmate Courtney Zambello (Sharon, Mass.)
- Lapierre finished the day with a team-high three hits in six at-bats and also drove in three with two runs scored
- Currie, sophomore Samantha Waskowitz (Killingworth, Conn.) and Gibbs all finished with two hits on the afternoon, as well, while Gibbs' four RBIs led the team
- Merrimack finished 3-for-9 (.333) with runners in scoring position while Le Moyne went 5-for-16 (.313)
Up Next
The Warriors continue their stretch of 17 games in 11 days tomorrow at home, as Merrimack welcomes Assumption to town for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. to conclude the season series.
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