Gulls Fall to Wellesley on the Road; Hoffman Hits Second Homerun on the Season

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team traveled to Wellesley on Wednesday afternoon for a non-conference matchup. Despite scoring three runs in the fifth Wellesley was able to hold the lead and secure the 10-6 victory. Game two of the double header was cancelled due to the weather. Endicott falls to 8-8 (5-0) while the Blue improve to 9-6 (2-2 NEWMAC).

Endicott will take the field next tomorrow, April 9^th as they battle with North Shore rival Salem State for a double header starting at 3:30 p.m. The Blue will see action next on Friday, April 10^th as they host NEWMAC opponent Wheaton for a double header at 3:00 p.m.

Overall for the Gulls juniors Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.), Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.), sophomore Lexi Pederson (Chandler, Ariz.), and freshman Kayla Sheldon (Burlington, Mass.) all recorded an RBI in the tough loss. Hoffman highlighted the Endicott stat sheet with her second homerun of the season. Endicott saw three different pitchers in the circle as junior Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) claimed the start with sophomore Leigh Wyman (South Freeport, Maine) and freshman Mikaela Mallozzi (Shelton, Conn.) all hurling two innings each.

For the regional powerhouse, Wellesley, senior Mariah Philips (Pala Alto, Calif.) led with an impressive four RBI's in the victory while sophomore Kendra Coleman (Scottsdale, Ariz.) followed with two.

After a scoreless first inning for both sides, the Gulls took the early 1-0 lead after Hoffman lead off the top of the second by crushing a homerun out of centerfield. The Blue would quickly answer back with three runs in the bottom of the second. Phillips earned three ribbies on the play as she doubled to left center to send three teammates around the bases for the 3-1 score.

After a 1-2-3 top of the third for Endicott, Wellesley continued their scoring spree with four more runs in the bottom of the third. Coleman started off as she slammed a homerun with a runner on third for two RBI's. With the bases loaded Philips would walk which would kick senior Emilyrose Havrilla (Caldwell, N.J.) to home plate. To end the inning sophomore Anna Pisac (Snohomish, Wash.) would take home off a pass ball to give the Blue a 7-1 lead.

In the top of the fourth the Blue and Green would finally answer back as Pederson would ground out to second with bases loaded to bring sophomore Julia McNeill (Hauppage, N.Y.) home for a 7-2 score.

After a scoreless bottom of the fourth the Wellesley, Endicott would continue to creep up on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth adding three more runs for the Gulls. With bases loaded, DiBella would single to right field for the RBI on Stratton. Sophomore Lindsee Allienello (East Providence, R.I.) would take advantage of a wild pitch and add another run for the Blue and Green. To close out the inning, sophomore Chrissy Gikas (Danvers, Mass.) would also take advantage of a wild pitch to make it a 5-7 score.

The close game would not last for long as Wellesley answered in the bottom of the firth adding two more runs while adding an insurance run on the bottom of the sixth to secure the 10-6 victory. Endicott would tally one more run in the top of the second as Gikas crossed home plate off a Sheldon single but it would not be enough to catch up to the non-conference opponent.