Softball Splits Doubleheader at Assumption Wednesday
Links: Box Score (G1) | Box Score (G2)
WORCESTER, Mass. – After falling in game one of a doubleheader at Assumption, the Merrimack College softball team bounced back in game two to take a 3-0 victory and split a doubleheader with the Greyhounds in Northeast-10 Conference divisional play on Wednesday evening.
The Basics
Score (G1): Assumption 5, Merrimack 0
Score (G2 – 5 innings): Merrimack 3, Assumption 0
Records: Merrimack (6-17, 1-5 NE-10) | Assumption (7-16, 4-7 NE-10)
Location: Marois Field | Worcester, Massachusetts
How It Happened (G1)
The Warriors would fall behind early in game one, as Assumption would take a 1-0 lead in the bottom off the second on a solo homerun from the second batter of the inning. Junior captain Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) would extend her hitting streak to five games with a single in the top of the first inning and fellow junior Mariah Tenney (Winchendon, Mass.) would pick up a single of her own in the second, but neither base runner would complete the trip to home.
Assumption extended the lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth despite not managing a hit in the inning. After a leadoff walk and a Greyhound reaching on an error to put runners at first and third, the runner on first would steal second a draw a throw from the plate, allowing the runner on third to score. Three singles and a walk in the fifth inning would stretch Assumption's lead to 3-0 headed to the sixth.
Merrimack would threaten in the sixth inning thanks to a leadoff single by Currie and a single from freshman Emily Kurkul (Bridgewater, Mass.) to give the Warriors runners on first and third with one out. A ball put in play by senior Brittany Razo (Anaheim, Calif.) would send Currie running for home, but she would be tagged out at the plate.
Assumption would manage two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning while keeping Merrimack scoreless to take game one, 5-0.
How It Happened (G2)
Currie took the mound for the Warriors in game two against the Greyhounds, looking to lead Merrimack to a much needed NE-10 divisional win. The junior captain would do just that in her five innings on the hill, keeping the Greyhounds scoreless and holding them to just four hits in that stretch prior to the game's early ending in the sixth inning due to lack of daylight.
After no hits in the first two innings, the Warriors' bats would wake up in the third with four hits scoring three runs, all of which came with two outs in the inning. Junior captain Samantha Waskowitz (Killingworth, Conn.) got the hitting started with a two-out double to left center. Tenney came to the plate next and followed suit with a double of her own to score Waskowitz and give Merrimack its first lead of the day at 1-0.
Currie was next to step in the box and was able to help her own cause, driving the ball deep enough into right field to cap off the trio and make it three consecutive two-out doubles, scoring Tenney and extending the lead to two. A single from junior Tamarra Crowe (North Bend, Wash.) later in the inning would score Currie to give Merrimack the 3-0 lead.
Currie pitched well in her final two innings before the game was ended, while the Merrimack offense continued to threaten in their final two at-bats, getting base runners on in each inning, but the lead would remain at three. Currie would maintain on the mound and complete the five inning shutout to pick up a big divisional win for the Warriors.
Inside The Numbers
- In five at-bats of game two, Merrimack was an impressive 6-for-12 at the plate with two outs. They also boasted a.500 average up to bat with runners in scoring position, giving themselves great opportunities for runs.
- Currie continues to be seeing the ball extremely well at the plate as she extends her hit-streak to six games. After going 3-for-5 at the plate on Wednesday, the junior captain is 8-for-18 (.444 avg) in that stretch.
- Tenney's day at the plate: 3-for-7, 1 2B, 1 RBI
- Waskowtiz's stolen base in game one puts her at five stolen bases this season, which is already more than her career total of four entering this year.
Up Next
The Warriors are back on the diamond tomorrow when they travel to Southern New Hampshire for their season finale with the 21st-ranked Penmen in Manchester. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
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