Links: Box Score (Game 1) |
Box Score (Game 2)
WORCESTER, Mass.  – The Merrimack College softball team used a seven-run eighth in game one to complete the comeback against Assumption College, defeating the Greyhounds 11-4. Assumption rallied late in the second game for a 2-1 victory to earn the split. The two programs will play each other in a rubber match on Tuesday, April 24 in North Andover.
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 11, Assumption 4 | Final/ 8 Innings
Score: Game 2: Assumption 2,
Merrimack 1 | Final
Records: Merrimack (26-9, 13-6 NE10) | Assumption (14-11, 9-6 NE10)
Location: Normand R. Marois Field | Worcester, Mass.
Rapid Recap (Game One)
- Merrimack wasted little time to put a run on the board, taking advantage of a Greyhound error. Sophomore Tiffany Mangiameli led off the game reaching on an error, before advancing to second on the overthrow. After Mangiameli moved to third, senior Alyssa Williamson brought her in for a 1-0 lead.
- After stranding a runner at second in the first, the Greyhounds jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second inning. After loading the bases with three consecutive singles, Julia Mazzeo ripped a one-out single to right field, bringing in two runs. Assumption tacked on another on a squeeze play to take a 3-1 lead.
- The Warriors got a run back in the third on a sacrifice fly by Williamson.
- Merrimack nearly tied it in the fourth. However, a play at the plate ended the inning with the home team up by a run. Assumption tacked on a fourth run in the fourth to double its lead.
- The Warriors responded in the fifth. Junior Nicole Nanof led off the inning with a solo shot, making it 4-3 in favor of the Greyhounds. Merrimack then tied the game in sixth. After a pair of one out singles, junior Hannah Johnson that knotted the game at four with a single.
- Assumption had a runner on third with two outs in the sixth, but senior Megan Cook got her third punch out of the game to keep it a tie game heading into the final inning.
- Merrimack had a seven-run inning in the eighth, scoring all of their runs with no outs.
- Merrimack loaded the bases in the eighth inning, thanks to a pair of walks and a double by freshman Elizabeth McCoy. Johnson came up big again, knocking in the go-ahead run with a single. Cook highlighted the inning with two-run double, before a sacrifice fly scored the final run of the inning. Cook retired the Greyhounds in order in the eighth for her sixth straight victory.
Rapid Recap (Game Two)
- Merrimack again jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Mangiameli singled to begin the game, before advancing to second on the throw. With runners on the corners and one out, Cook dropped a bunt down the first base line, allowing Mangameli to score.
- Assumption loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but Warriors' starter senior Courtney Zambello got out of the jam without any harm. She went on to retire nine in a row, before a pair of two-out singles in the fifth put runners on first and second for Assumption. The senior got a grounder to short to end the inning.
- Assumption put the tying run on base in the sixth, as Alyssa Beaton singled to start the inning. Marissa Doherty came in to pinch run, advancing to second on a passed ball. With one out, Kayla Peabody singled through the right side, putting runners on the corners. Caitlin Mirabell knocked in both runs to give the Greyhounds the 2-1 lead with a single to right field.
- Assumption starter Mia Nowicki struck out the first two batters of the seventh, before Nanof hit a two-out single. However, she got Williamson to fly out to center to end the game.
Notes and Notables
- Game 1: WP – Cook (18-2) | LP – Kendal Roy (6-5)
- Cook's Line: (8.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K)
- Cook fanned four batters, bringing her career total to 293 strikeouts. She also has 392 career innings pitched. She has started sixth straight games in the circle, getting six wins. It was her 18th complete game of the season.
- Nanof's home run was her fourth of the season, eclipsing last season's total of three. She also picked up two RBI, making it the sixth time this season with a multi-RBI output.
- Williamson knocked in three runs. The Warriors had five different player's record two hits in the game.
- Mangiameli has hit safely in sixth straight games, while Johnson has a hit in the last four games.
- Game 2: WP – Mia Nowicki (7-5)| LP – Zambello (4-4)
- Zambello's line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER 2 BB, 2 K
- Cook came in relief, striking out two. With six strikeouts on the day, she now has 295 career strikeouts.
- Mangameli extended her hitting streak to seven games. Williamson has hit safely in four straight games.
- Freshman Luciellia Colarusso was the lone Warrior with two hits in the game.
Up Next:
Merrimack's scheduled doubleheader with Stonehill tomorrow got moved to next Monday, April 23 with rain in the forecast Thursday. The Warriors will enjoy a couple days off before heading to Manchester, New Hampshire this weekend for a three-game series against Southern New Hampshire University. Saturday's doubleheader will have a noon start time, with Sunday's single game starting at 12. Â
