Softball Tripped Up at #21 Southern New Hampshire
Links: Box Score
MANCHESTER, N.H. – Playing its third road game in two days, the Merrimack College softball team dropped its season finale with 21st-ranked Southern New Hampshire on Thursday afternoon, falling 8-0 to the Penmen in five innings in Northeast-10 Conference divisional play.
The Basics
Score (G1 – 5 innings): #21 Southern N.H. 8, Merrimack 0
Records: Merrimack (6-18, 1-6 NE-10) | Assumption (14-5, 6-1 NE-10)
Location: SNHU Softball Field | Manchester, N.H.
How It Happened
The Penmen go out to a quick lead in the bottom of the first inning, as a leadoff walk would be scored on an RBI double to put Merrimack down 1-0 after one. Junior Tamarra Crowe (North Bend, Wash.) looked to start a tying effort in the second with a one-out single, which was followed by a walk to give the Warriors to runners on, but two straight outs would allow the Penmen to escape the inning.
After no hits from Southern New Hampshire in the second, the Warriors again looked to go for the tie in the third as sophomore Megan Cook (Bellingham, Mass.) led the inning off with a single followed immediately by junior captain Samantha Waskowitz (Killingworth, Conn.) doing the same for runners on first and second with no outs. Both runners would advance a base, but the Penmen would again escape the inning with three consecutive outs to end the at-bat.
The Penmen responded to the Warriors' two hits with an outburst in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs on five hits to extend their lead to 5-0. Sophomore Brooke Gubala (Raynham, Mass.) ripped a single in the fourth inning looking to start a late rally, but she would be the lone hit of the inning.
Southern New Hampshire picked up another run in the fourth and two more in the third to put their lead at eight runs, which enacted the mercy rule after five innings. Waskowitz knocked her second hit of the day in the top of the fifth, but would only make it as far as second base.
Inside The Numbers
- Waskowitz's 2-for-3 day on Thursday extends her hitting streak to six games. In that stretch she is a red-hot 9-for-16 (.563 avg) at the plate, improving her season average to .317, which is second on the team.
- Both teams left seven runners on base through the five innings of the game. The Warriors batted .263 as a team in the game, while the Penmen batted .476.
- After Thursday's game, Merrimack as a team this season is now batting .219 at the plate, while they sport an on-base percentage of .306 and a slugging percentage of .302
Up Next
The Warriors gear up for their home-opener on Sunday when they host American International for a conference doubleheader. Game on of the day is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.
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