Links: Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.  – The Merrimack College softball team overcame an early deficit Saturday night in game three of the Snowbird Softball Freeze Out tournament, needing extra innings and a handful of incredible defensive plays to defeat Slippery Rock, 4-3. Senior
Emily Kurkul had the game-winning RBI in the top of the eighth, helping the Warriors improve to 3-0 on the season.
Due to weather, the Warriors were also scheduled to play West Virginia State University at 12 p.m. – which was postponed, and later canceled. Â
The Basics
Score: Merrimack 4, Slippery Rock 3 | Final/8
Location: Ned Donkle Complex | Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Rapid Recap
- Slippery Rock started things off in the bottom half of the first. After a leadoff triple, a sacrifice bunt scored the game's first run.
- Another run came across in the second for Slippery Rock. Aubrey Allen delivered a gap-shot triple, scoring Leah Vith from first; she came across to score one batter later on a sacrifice fly.
- Merrimack got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Tiffany Mangiameli was hit by a pitch and stole second, senior Hannah Johnson singled, scoring her from second.
- The Warriors cut the lead once again in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Jennifer Hutnyan drew a walk, and was driven in on a double to left-center by senior Brianna Sebio. She scored two batters later, when miscommunication in the outfield led to Luciella Colarusso reaching base. A single by sophomore Abigail Amato put runners on first and second, but the Warriors couldn't push another run across.
- Jenna Wike came on in relief two-thirds of the way through the fourth inning, inheriting two runners. After a walk, Mangiameli made an outstanding defensive play at short, and Wike pitched a groundout to get out of the inning.
- Merrimack went down in order in the top of the fifth; Slippery Rock looked to respond in the bottom of the inning after a runner reached, but an incredible diving play at second by Amato ended the inning.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Slippery Rock was stopped once again by outstanding defensive play by the Warriors; Johnson made a diving catch in left field, and a hot shot at third was stopped by McBride to end the frame.
- It took extra innings to settle the score, with Merrimack scoring in the top of the eighth. After freshman Danielle Carmody reached and was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, Emily Kurkul poked a double to right field, scoring Carmody and giving the Warriors a 4-3 lead.
- Defesnve played a huge factor again in the bottom of the eighth. After a runner rea
Notes and Numbers
- WP – Wike (2-0) | LP – Camie Schumaker (1-2)
- Wike's Line: (4.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K)
Up Next:
The Warriors are back in action for the final day of the Snowbird Softball Freeze Out tournament, taking on Lock Haven and Felician at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.
