Softball Takes Opening Series Against Sacred Heart

Fairfield, CT- The Merrimack Women's Softball team won their first NEC conference games in thier weekend series against the Sacred Heart Pioneers, winning their first two games on Saturday by scores of 11-1 and 6-2, before falling on Sunday by a score of 8-5.


Game 1: Merrimack: 11, Sacred Heart: 1 F/5
Sacred Heart took the lead in the third inning, but the Warriors would tie the score in the fourth inning as Courtney Lanpher would score on a throwing error. However the Warriors would open in the fifth as Hannah Scarano would double home Sofia Palyan and Scarano would score herself after an Ellen Hubbard single who would score from a Madison Cerpa single. Lanpher would score again on a wild pitch before Sydney Miller would break the game open with a three run home run making the Warriors lead seven. The Warriors add two more on a walk and throwing error. Ellen Hubbard would knock Sam Russalesi in putting the Warriors in position for the mercy rule.
Bry Michitison would finish the game in style striking out the side to finish the game in the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.

Notes and Numbers:

• Caity Lemay, Sofia Palyan and Hannah Scarano all had a double each.
• Ellen Hubbard, Courtney Lanpher, and Scarano all had two hits each.
• Sydney Samuel hit her first Warriors home run in the win.
• Bry Michitson allowed one run, one hit and struck out six over five innings, notching her third win of the season.

Game 2: Merrimack: 5, Sacred Heart: 8
In Game two, the Pioneers would score the games first run in the third again, but once again the Warriors would answer as Sofia Palyan would score Sydney Samuel on a sacrifice fly. In the fifth, Ellen Hubbard would score on a wild pitch to gain the lead for Merrimack. Madison Cerpa would homer to left scoring two runs. Sacred Heart would cut the lead in half in the sixth, but the Warriors would put the game away with two more runs, one on a Samuel double and the other with a Caity Lemay single, capturing the double header win.

Notes and Numbers:

• Courtney Lanpher doubled twice and Sydney Samuel had one.
• Madison Cerpa homered in the win, her season of the season.
• Madie Fornwalt won her first game of the season, pitching six innings and striking out three.

 

Game 3: Merrimack: 6, Sacred Heart: 2
Merrimack would jump out to the lead as Madison Cerpa would score Ellen Hubbard with a single, and the Warriors score their second run of the first on a passed ball. Sacred Heart would get one back in the bottom half of the inning.
In the second the Warriors would load the bases and gain another run on a bases loaded hit by pitch. In the fourth, Sydney Samuel hit a sacrifice fly scoring Courtney Lanpher stretching the lead to three.
The Pioneers would cut the lead back to two in the bottom of the fourth, but the lead would go right back to three as Madison Cerpa knocked in a run on a single.
In the sixth, Sacred Heart would score five runs to take the lead, and Merrimack was unable to tie the game in their final at bats.
Notes and Numbers

• Ellen Hubbard, Courtney Lanpher, and Madison Cerpa had two hits each.
• Alex Miller, Bailey McDermott and Sydney Samuel all had one hit each.

 
  
UP NEXT:
The Warriors will play Boston University at home on Wednesday, March 22nd  for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 2 PM and 4 PM.
For continuing coverage of Merrimack College Athletics, visit MerrimackAthletics.com and follow the Warriors on Twitter and on Facebook.