Softball Goes 3-0 in Florida at Spring Games on Friday; Warriors Upset #22 Wayne State
Links: Box Score (G1)
CLERMONT, Mass. – After a pair of tough losses on the opening day of the Dot Richardson Spring Games on Thursday, the Merrimack College softball team bounced back in full force on Friday in Clermont, Florida, winning three games in one day including a huge upset victory over 22nd-ranked Wayne State.
The Basics
Score (G1): Merrimack 1, #22 Wayne State 0
Score (G2): Merrimack 6, Bridgeport 1
Score (G3): Merrimack 4, Bridgeport 2
Records: Merrimack (5-8) | #22 Wayne State (19-4) | Bridgeport (5-9)
Location: National Training Center | Clermont, Fla.
How It Happened (G1)
After a tough loss to the 22nd-ranked team in the nation on Thursday, the Warriors of Merrimack came out on Friday afternoon looking for redemption against the Warriors of #22 Wayne State. Senior Alexis Perry (Westford, Vt.) would get her first start of the season against Wayne State and would shine in the performance. The senior would start the game by retiring the first five batters she faced before going on to pitch a complete game shutout, allowing just three hits and striking out two to hand Wayne State just its fourth loss in 23 games.
Merrimack's lone run of the contest would come in the top of the third after beginning the inning with senior Brittany Razo (Anaheim, Calif.) reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Junior captain Samantha Waskowitz (Killing worth, Conn.) and sophomore Alyssa Williamson (Scarborough, Maine) would follow that with back-to-back singles, with Williamson knocking in Razo from second for her eighth RBI of the season.
How It Happened (G2)
The Warriors would get off to a hot start and game two of the day and the first of a doubleheader with Bridgeport thanks to a leadoff single from Waskowitz. After advancing to third on a sacrifice and ground out, the junior would steal home to put Merrimack up 1-0 in the first. The Purple Knights would tie the game back up in the bottom of the first, but it would be the only run they would manage all game.
Junior captain Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) would get the nod on the hill in the second game of the day, and would help her cause both their and at the plate throughout the game. A big double from the junior in the third inning would do just that, driving in a run to contribute to Merrimack's two-run third, going up 3-1.
With the lead at 4-1 headed to the final inning, a leadoff double from Williamson followed by a single from Currie would put runners on first and third. Currie would then steal second to move both runners into scoring position, followed by a sacrifice fly from freshman Emily Kurkul (Bridgewater, Mass.) to score Williamson and extend the lead to 5-1. With Currie now on third, she would make sure to get any insurance run she could by stealing home to take a 6-1 lead before closing out the game in the bottom of the inning.
How It Happened (G3)
Taking the field for the third time in one day, the Warriors fought through fatigue to put together a quality game in the 7:00 p.m. night cap with Bridgeport. Kurkul would get the scoring started for Merrimack in the bottom of the first, driving in two runs with a single to put the Warriors up 2-0.
In similar fashion to the first game of the doubleheader, the Warriors would pick up an early run on a steal at home plate, with this one coming from freshman Nicole Nanof (Goffstown, N.H.) in the second inning. An RBI-single from junior Tamarra Crowe (North Bend, Wash.) in the inning would give Merrimack a 4-0 lead headed to the third.
Bridgeport would cut the lead to three with a run in third inning and add another run in the fifth to make it 4-2, but sophomore pitcher Courtney Zambello (Sharon, Mass.) would hold them there, going five innings and adding four strikeouts to pick up the win.
Up Next
The Warriors take the field tomorrow in Florida for a double header with NYIT, with first pitch of the first game scheduled for 1:00 p.m., and game two scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
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