NORTH ANDOVER, MA- The Merrimack softball team won two thrilling games in walk-off fashion against the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers on April 25th. Thiana Brito was the hero in Game 1, and Sofia Palyan was the hero in Game 2!
Game 1 Score: Merrimack 3, The Mount 2 (9 innings)
Game 2 Score: Merrimack 7, The Mount 6
Game 1 Recap
Anna Gedacht got the start in the circle and had a 1-2-3 outing in the first inning. Gabby Kaduson got the offense going in the bottom of the 1st with a line drive over the head of The Mount center fielder for a double. Anna Gedacht had the bases loaded in the 2nd inning, but she got out of the jam and left The Mount base runners stranded to end the inning. She had another very efficient inning in the 3rd, getting two of the three outs by herself with Ellen Hubbard making a great diving play for out number 3. Eva Issitt got up in the bottom of the 3rd and lined a single to left field. After she reached, Issitt and Ellen Hubbard each stole a base. Thiana Brito provided the first tally for the Warriors with a sac fly that scored Issitt. Gabby Kaduson kept the train rolling with another line drive hit over the center fielder's head for an RBI double to give the Warriors the lead. Caity Lemay picked up where her teammates left off as she came up in the 4th inning and hit a hard ground ball up the middle for a single. Thiana Brito then stepped up in the bottom of the 5th and hit a rocket single to center field. Alex Miller continued the offensive effort in the 6th inning with a base hit right down the left field line. The Mount tied the game in the 7th inning, but the defense and the pitching from the Warriors came in clutch to limit the damage. As the game went to extra innings, both teams had runners on base in the 8th but none came across the plate. Anna Gedacht was lights out in the top of the 9th as she set down each of The Mount batters in order. Thiana Brito was the hero in the bottom of the 9th as she hit a walk-off single to win game 1 for the Warriors, 3-2!
Game 2 Recap
Ellen Hubbard and Gabby Kaduson both reached with singles in the bottom of the 1st. Madeline Arvai then plated Hubbard with a ground out RBI to tie the game at 1. The Warriors went on a hitting streak in the third inning. Eva Issitt got up and ran out an infield single. Ellen Hubbard followed that with a blistering double in the left field gap. Thiana Brito then continued her great offensive day by poking a 2 RBI single to right center field. The top of the order came up in the 5th for the Warriors as Ellen Hubbard and Thiana Brito both got singles. It paved the way for Sam Russalesi and Caity Lemay to work walks and make a comeback to be within striking distance of The Mount. Sofia Palyan, Eva Issitt and Ellen Hubbard then reached with hits in the bottom of the 6th. The Warriors defense made some clutch outs in the later innings, as Eva Issitt and Thiana Brito were diving and reaching for fly balls all over the field. Sofia Palyan was the hero in the bottom of the 7th as she delivered the game-winning 2 RBI single to give the Warriors their second walk-off victory of the day, 7-6!
Game 1 Notes and Numbers
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Thiana Brito was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. She delivered the game-winning hit and the game-tying sac fly.
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Gabby Kaduson was also 2 for 4 with an RBI.
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Anna Gedacht pitched a complete game and recorded 6 strikeouts.
Game 2 Notes and Numbers
Up Next
The Warriors play the third game of their series with the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers on Sunday, April 27th. The team will be celebrating Senior Day! The game is currently scheduled to start at 12PM, with the Senior Day ceremony taking place before the game. The game will be streamed on the Merrimack Sports Network. For continuing coverage, visit www.merrimackathletics.com. Follow Merrimack softball on Instagram and Twitter @merrimacksb.
