Endicott softball takes two from Nichols; improves to 6-1 in conference

Beverly, Mass. – The Endicott softball team won twice over TCCC rival Nichols College on Sunday afternoon to improve their conference standing to 6-1. The Gulls benefited from a three-run homerun in the first game to edge the Bison while strong pitching and an offensive outburst lifted the home team to a doubleheader sweep.

Boxscore

In a game that featured 10 errors between the two teams, it was a three-run blast in the bottom of the fifth by freshman shortstop Mattie Brett (Waterford, Conn.) and lockdown pitching over the final 1 1/3 innings by freshman Nell O’Connor (Harwick, Mass.) that proved to the difference-maker for the Gulls.

Brett finished the game 4-for-4 with two doubles, a homerun, and five RBI to lead Endicott to victory. Fellow freshman Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored while sophomore third baseman Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, Conn.) scored three times for the Gulls. 

Nichols saw junior Chelsea Correia (Seekonk, Mass.) drive in three runners, all on a double to deep right field with the bases load in the fourth inning. The timely hit was part of a six-run inning for the Bison that gave them a 10-9 lead at the time. 

Nichols scored once more in the top of the fifth when after a stolen base by Allasyn Lieneck (Oldsmar, Fla.), an error throw down to the centerfielder covering second base sailed into the outfield to advance Lieneck around third and home. 

Down 11-9, Endicott responded with a four-run bottom of the fifth capped off by the go-ahead three-run homerun by Brett. The Gulls also scored on a broken-up double play attempt that plated a runner from third. 

The Bison, now trailing 13-11, cut the Endicott lead down to one with an RBI single from Lieneck. The visitors loaded the bases with two outs, but the Gulls called upon Nell O’Connor to get the final out of the inning to escape the jam. O’Connor went on to get the final three outs of the game, earning her second save of the season.

Endicott’s Jenna Bortolotti (Milton, Mass.) allowed just two earned runs in the game, despite 11 runners crossing the plate due to number of errors in her 5 2/3 innings on the mound. She earned her sixth victory of the season. 

Nichols junior Molly Ferraro (Millis, Mass.) also allowed just four earned runs, but walked seven batters and gave up seven hits in the loss. 

Boxscore

The Gulls carried the momentum from game one into game two, exploding for 16 runs on 11 hits, including two homeruns by sophomore Colleen Martin (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and another one by freshman Alexandra Moise (North Reading, Mass.). 

Martin drove in six runners on a three-run blast in the first, a sacrifice fly in the second, and a two-run homer in the third inning. Moise finished the game with three RBI on a two-run homerun in the first and a RBI single in the second inning.

Mattie Brett continued her stellar day at the plate for the Gulls, adding two more hits, three runs scored and an RBI. Senior outfielder Hayley Hovhanessian (Farmington, Conn.) scored twice, drove in a run and stole her first base of the season in the win. Sophomore catcher Krista Fales (Melrose, Mass.) went 1-for-2 out of the eight-spot in the lineup with two runs and an RBI. 

For the Bison, at the top of the lineup Barbara Roy (Springfield, Mass.) and Emalee Watkins (Malden, Mass.) each had two hits and scored twice. Both of Watkins’ hits were doubles, giving her a team-leading six on the season. 

On the mound for the Blue and Green, sophomore hurler Kayla Carignan (Laconia, N.H.) earned the win, remaining undefeated at 4-0 on the season. She gave up three earned runs on six hits, no walks and two strikeouts. 

Weather pending, Endicott will host the University of New England on Monday, April 4^th starting at 3:00 pm for a TCCC doubleheader. Nichols hosts TCCC opponent Gordon on Tuesday, April 5^th for two games starting at 3:00 pm.