Softball Clinches NE10 Northeast Division Title with 8-0 Win at Franklin Pierce Friday

4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM

Links: Box Score

RINDGE, N.H. – The Merrimack College softball team clinched its first regular season title since the 2002 season with an 8-0, six-inning win at Franklin Pierce on Friday afternoon, as the victory sealed the Northeast-10 Conference Northeast Division title for the Warriors and the top seed entering the NE10 Championships next week.

The Basics
Score: Merrimack 8, Franklin Pierce 0
Records: Merrimack (30-12, 17-5 NE10) | Franklin Pierce (1-32, 1-21 NE10)
Location: Bisaccia SB Complex | Rindge, N.H.

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. The Warriors automatically advance to the NE10 Semifinals. Merrimack will also host all NE10 Championship games. Assumption and Saint Anselm each have five divisional games remaining.

1. Merrimack (16-2)
2. Assumption (11-4)
3. Saint Anselm (11-4)
4. Southern N.H. (8-7)

How It Happened (G1)

• 1^st inning – The Warriors' offensive onslaught began in their first at bat, with the Warriors putting up three runs in the top of the first inning. A pair of errors would allow Merrimack's first run to score, followed by an RBI double from sophomore Caitlin McBride (Danvers, Mass.) to drive in the second run. McBride would then be brought home on an RBI single from junior Alyssa Williamson (Scarborough, Maine) for the 3-0 lead after one.
• 2^nd inning – While senior captain Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) was delivering an incredible outing on the mound, pitching a perfect game through five inning, the senior captain would also add an RBI at the plate, knocking in the lone run of the second inning for the Warriors with an infield single to extend the lead to 4-0 after two.
• 3^rd inning – Merrimack would put up another three runs in the third inning, scoring all three with two outs in the inning. Two runs would come on the first-career home run for senior Morgan Phipps (Melrose, Mass.), hitting an inside-the-park homer with a runner on to stretch the Warrior lead to 6-0. Classmate and captain Samantha Waskowitz (Killingworth, Conn.) would get in the mix with an RBI single to end the inning and put Merrimack ahead 7-0.
• 6^th inning – After a fourth and fifth inning that saw the teams combine for just one hit and no runs scored, the Warriors would get back on the scoring track with three hits in the top of the sixth. With a pair of singles and a walk loading the bases, sophomore Emily Kurkul (Bridgewater, Mass.) would step up and rip a RBI double to left center to drive in Merrimack eighth run of the game in six innings.
• 6^th inning – Currie would enter the sixth inning still perfect and needing just three outs to close out the win and perfect game. While the leadoff batter would break up Currie's perfect game with a bloop single to right field, the senior captain would buckle down an register three straight outs to seal the regular season title.

Inside The Numbers

• WP – Currie (12-2) 6.0 IP, 1H, 0R, 2K
• The Warriors regular season division title marks their first regular season championship since the 2002 season, while Merrimack also registered just its second 30-win season in the last 13 years. Their 17 conference wins are the most in the last six years, while the Warriors' .773 win percentage in conference game is the best since 2001.
• On top of a remarkable one-hit pitching performance that saw a perfect game after five innings, Currie was also 3-for-4 at the plate and picked up her 31^st RBI of the season. Proving she does it all, Currie ranks fourth in the NE10 in RBI (31), wins (12) and ERA (1.92).
• The Warriors saw contributions throughout their lineup Friday, as seven different Warriors registered a hit, four registered multi-hit games, and six registered an RBI.

Up Next
The Warriors close out their regular season tomorrow with a doubleheader at Franklin Pierce beginning at 1:00 p.m.

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