Endicott improves to 12-0 in CCC after blanking Bison

DUDLEY, Mass. – After shutting out Nichols in back-to-back games on Wednesday afternoon, the Endicott softball team saw their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) record improve to 12-0 heading into a difficult weekend of competition against three of the league's top teams in Western New England, Roger Williams, and Salve Regina.

Endicott (13-15, 12-0 CCC) stands alone atop of the CCC standings after junior Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.), sophomore Cameron Sprague (Clifton Park, N.Y.), and freshman Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) combined to shut out Nichols (5-23, 3-11 CCC) over 12 innings, allowing zero runs, five total hits, while striking out 18 on the day. 

Game One: Endicott 9, Nichols 0 (6 inn.)

For the third time this season, O'Connor matched her career-high with six strikeouts as she went just four innings in earning her seventh victory of the year.  Blake went the final two frames, striking out three more batters and allowing just one hit.

Junior second baseman Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) drove in three runs in a 2-for-4 day at the dish and senior Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, Conn.) added a pair of RBI and runs scored to lead the Gulls offensively.  Junior shortstop Kelley Michael (Ipswich, Mass.) went 4-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored with outfielders Alexandra Moise (North Reading, Mass.) and Jamie Corda (Higganum, Conn.) adding two runs scored each.

Endicott went up 2-0 in the top of the first as both Bilafer and senior Byrne Katz (Trumbull, Conn.) drove in runs.  In the top of the fourth, senior Krista Fales (Melrose, Mass.) singled to right to drive in a run to put the Gulls on top 3-0.

Endicott broke the game open with a four-run top of the fifth as Russo and Bilafer hit back-to-back two-RBI singles to make it 7-0 Endioctt.  One inning later, the Gulls got a two-run double to center from junior Danielle LaRocque (Averill Park, N.Y.) to cap off the scoring.

Game Two: Endicott 12, Nichols 0 (6 inn.)

Sprague tied a career-high with nine strikeouts in six innings of two-hit work against the Bison in game two.  The sophomore improved to 3-5 on the year as she has won three of her last four starts, all against conference opponents.

Russo followed up her game one effort with two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI in game two.  Sophomore Jess Linden (Stratford, Conn.) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk and Katz knocked in two and scored twice herself in the shutout win.  The Gulls also got RBI hits from Bilafer, Fales, and Corda.

Endicott scored runs in the third and fourth innings on a passed ball and an error, but really took control of the game in the top of the sixth as the Blue and Green plated 10 to go up 12-0.  Endicott got five straight RBI hits including Katz' two-RBI double.  Corda followed Katz with a RBI double down the left field line and after advancing on a wild pitch, Corda took home following a Moise walk.