Cook's Shutout, McBride's Three RBI Lead Softball to Fourth Straight Division Win at Assumption
Links: Box Score
WORCESTER, Mass. – Led by a complete-game shutout from junior starter Megan Cook (Bellingham, Mass.) and a three-RBI game from sophomore Caitlin McBride (Danvers, Mass.), the Merrimack College softball team registered its fourth straight Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Divisional win on Thursday evening, winning at Assumption by a score of 4-0. The Warriors are now just a win away from clinching the regular season division title.
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4, Assumption 0
Records: Merrimack (29-12, 16-5 NE10) | Assumption (17-14, 13-6 NE10)
Location: Marois Field | Worcester, Mass.
NE10 Postseason Outlook (N.E. Division)
The top-four programs in the division standings advance to the NE10 Championship, with the second seed receiving a first-round bye and the top seed automatically advancing to the NE10 Semifinals. The top seed in the Northeast Division will host all NE10 Championship games. The Warriors have three divisional games remaining, while Assumption and Saint Anselm each have five to play.
1. Merrimack (15-2)
2. Assumption (11-4)
3. Saint Anselm (11-4)
4. Southern N.H. (8-7)
How It Happened (G1)
- 1st -inning – Merrimack would threaten for runs in the early innings of a game that would ultimately see just one run through the first six frames. The Warriors opened up with loading the bases in their first at bat, kicked off by a double from senior captain Samantha Waskowitz (Killingworth, Conn.). Merrimack would end up leaving all three runners stranded.
- 3rd inning – The Warriors would break through in the third inning, again initiated by Waskowitz who would draw a walk and then steal second base. McBride would step to the plate and hit the first of three singles for the sophomore in the game, putting the ball in right field to drive home Waskowitz and put Merrimack up 1-0.
- 4th inning – One of Assumption's few chances to plate a run while Cook pitched a gem for the Warriors would come in the fourth inning, as the Greyhounds would load the bases with two outs. But as she has done all season, Cook would thrive under pressure and register a strikeout to escape the inning unharmed.
- 6th –7th inning – The Navy and Gold would record a pair of hits in the sixth looking for more runs, but would explode in their final at bat in the seventh inning for three runs, beginning with an error and yet another double from Waskowitz. After senior captain Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) knocked in a run on a fielder's choice, McBride would plate two more runs with her third single of the game to stretch the lead to 4-0. Assumption would lead off the bottom of the inning with a single, but Cook would follow with three straight outs for the shuout.
Inside The Numbers
- WP – Cook (9-5) Complete-Game Shutout, 5H, 7K
- Cook's outing marks the first seven-inning shutout of her career, as she also registered a five-inning shutout in a 9-0 mercy win in Florida during Spring Break. She now sits in a dead tie for first in the NE10 with a 1.63 ERA on the year, though she boasts eight more starts and 30 more innings pitched than her counterpart.
- McBride's 3-for-3 day extends her hit streak to six games, seeing her bat for a .563 batting average in that span (9-for-16). She now ranks third on the team and ninth in the conference with a .369 batting average, while she also ranks fifth with 30 RBI.
Up Next
The Warriors continue NE10 divisional action tomorrow afternoon at Assumption. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
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