Gulls Split with CCC Opponent Nichols on the Road

DUDLEY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team traveled to Nichols on Sunday afternoon for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) double header. In game one four different Gulls earned an RBI while junior Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) hurled her 10^th complete game of the season in the 5-2 victory. In game two, despite the four strikeouts by sophomore Leigh Wyman (South Freeport, Maine), the Gulls dropped a 4-1 decision. Endicott sits at 10-10 (7-2 CCC) while the Bison earned their second CCC victory of the season at 6-14 (2-8 CCC).

Endicott will have a quick turn around and take the field next tomorrow, Monday, April 13^th as they travel to Wentworth for a double header, starting at 3:00 p.m. Nichols will play next on Thursday, April 16 for a double header with non-conference opponent Worcester State.

Game One: Endicott 5, Nichols 2

Game one was completely controlled by the Blue and Green with Blake hurling seven innings to improve to 8-2 on the season with three strikeouts. In the victory freshman Margaret Martzolf, sophomore Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) and juniors Sam DiBella (Danvers, Mass.) and Jamie Corda (Higganum, Conn.) all tallied an RBI for the Gulls. Corda, DiBella and freshman Stephanie Cameron (Milford, Conn.) also recorded a double in the triumph.

Endicott got on the board early in the top of the first as McNeill singled with Corda on third base to send her home for the first run of the game. With McNeill on first, DiBella would crank a double to centerfield to allow McNeill to head home to end the inning with a 2-0 lead.

Corda would earn her RBI in the top of the second after she launched a double to right field to send freshman Danielle Stratton (Agawam, Mass.) in for a run for the 3-0 lead. Blake would hurl a 1-2-3 bottom of the second before the Blue and Green would put up their fourth run of the day in the top of the third. With junior Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) on second, Martzolf singled to allow Hoffman to head home for the 4-0 lead.

The Gulls would not score again until the top of the seventh as Cameron would take advantage of a wild pitch and head home. Nichols would finally earn two runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh but it would not be enough as Endicott held the lead and secured the victory.

Game Two: Endicott 1, Nichols 4

In game two the Bison were able to pick up their offensive game earning four runs while holding the Gulls to just one to claim just their second victory over Endicott in program history. Wyman hurled four innings allowing four runs and throwing four strikeouts before freshman Mikaela Mallozzi (Shelton, Conn.) came on in relief for two inning of work.

Endicott got on the board first in the top of first as Corda took advantage of a pass ball and took off for home for their lone run of the game.

The Bison would fire back in the bottom of the second as sophomore Christina Barrows (Carver, Mass.) singled to short to send sophomore Meghan Sears(Tewsbury, Mass.) home. The next batter, freshman Brianna Kilborn (North Brookefield, Mass.) singled through the left side to send Barrows and sophomore Samantha DiReda (Shrewsbury, Mass.) in for two runs and the 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the fifth Nichols earned one more run as junior Haley Fountain (Warren, Mass.) singled to center field to send her teammate in to secure the 4-1 victory.