Gulls Sweep Bison with Two Walk-Off Victories

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team hosted Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) opponent Nichols on Saturday afternoon for a double header. Sophomore Jamie Corda (Higganum, Conn.) led the day with five RBIs as the Gulls soared to two 8-0 walk-off victories. With the two wins the Blue and Green improve to 12-4 (5-1 CCC) while the Bison fall to 6-10 (1-3).

The Gulls see action next on Tuesday, April 8^th at Salem State for a 3/5PM doubleheader against the North Shore rivals.

Game One: Endicott 8, Nichols 0

Everything was going right for the Gulls in game one as senior pitcher Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) controlled the circle hurling all six innings while recording 56 strikes on her 77 pitches. Her team backed her up offensively as they tallied eight runs, including a walk-off homerun by sophomore Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) in the bottom of the sixth inning for the victory.

After a 1-2-3 top of the first by O'Connor the Blue and Green started the scoring as sophomore Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) pushed for the sacrifice bunt to bump senior Jesse Bilafer (Concord, Mass.) home.  With DiBella on in scoring position after she singled and advanced to third on a throw, senior Kelley Michael (Ipswich, Mass.) singled to third base to push DiBella home to end the inning on top 2-0.

O'Connor then pitched three straight 1-2-3 innings to bring the Gulls into the bottom of the fifth with the 2-0 lead. The Blue and Green scored four runs in the inning. The first came when Corda stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and doubled to left field to bring Hoffman and freshman Hannah Graney (Acton, Mass.) around the bases. After two more runs for Endicott after freshman Chrissy Gikas (Danvers, Mass.)reached first on an error that brought Corda and freshman Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) the Blue and Green wrapped up the fifth with a seven run lead.

O'Connor continued to work the plate as she pitched her fifth and final 1-2-3 inning sending the Gulls into the bottom of the sixth with a chance for the walk off victory needing just one run. Hoffman got on base as she singled to center field, she then advanced to second on a pass ball to get into scoring position. DiBella stepped up to the plate and cranked her first homerun on the season to center field to secure the win.

With the victory, O'Connor claimed her sixth win on the season as she moves to 6-0.

Game Two: Endicott 8, Nichols 0

With sophomore Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) following suit in the circle pitching all five innings, only allowing three hits and recording 37 strikes on 47 pitches the sophomore pulled out the 8-0 victory to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Bilafer started the scoring early in the bottom of the first as she took advantage of an error and reached home plate for the 1-0 lead. Blake then hurled two straight 1-2-3 innings bringing the Gulls into the bottom of the third where they scored three runs.

With Bilafer and Moise on base, DiBella doubled to left center to wrap Bilafer around the bases and bumped Moise to third. Couto then singled to advance Moise home and DiBella to third. To wrap up the inning Corda then ripped a singled down the left field line that brought DiBella home.

The Blue and Green entered the bottom of the fifth needing four runs to seal the victory, Moise started off crossing home plate on a wild pitch with zero outs. With Couto and DiBella on second and third Corda cranked a double to center field that was just shy of a homerun that brought Couto and DiBella home with ease. Needing one more run, senior Alli Noyes (Tewksbury, Mass.) forced the suicide squeeze to bump Corda home to secure the triumph.