Softball Breaks Even Against Carroll (Wis.) & Amherst On Day Two

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Endicott softball team defeated Carroll (Wis.), 2-1, in game one but fell to Amherst, 5-2, in the nightcap on day two of its spring break trip in Florida.

GAME ONE: Endicott 2, Carroll (Wis.) 1

WP (2-0): Maria Hanchuk (South Windsor, Conn.) – 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB
LP (1-1): Grace Bradley (Grayslake, Ill.) – 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K

Tied 1-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers appeared to force extra innings after Sierra Grubor (Milwaukee, Wis.) gunned down the Gulls' potential game-winning run with a dart from center field.

However, the Gulls appealed the call and Paige Berdos (Plainville, Mass.) was awarded home plate on an obstruction call (blocking the plate) for the walk-off win.

Berdos initiated the offense in the seventh with a leadoff single to left field. She later advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Caitlyn Romero (Southport, Conn.) before Lauren Misiaszek (Londonderry, N.H.) singled her home with a base knock up the middle.

Meanwhile, in the top of the seventh, Endicott showcased its defensive prowess to keep the score deadlocked at 1-1.

Misiaszek made the first of two defensive gems for the Gulls via a diving catch down the right field line for the inning's first out with a runner on first base.

From there, the Pioneers attempted to score the go-ahead run on a single to shallow left field with a runner at second, but Endicott left fielder Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) threw a perfect one-hopper to catcher Raven Comtois (Milford, N.H.) who had plenty of time to apply the tag and walk away from the inning unscathed.

Misiaszek also set the table for the Gulls' first run to begin the contest as the senior right fielder hit a single to left-center and eventually came around to score on a Chrissy Marotto (Southington, Conn.) double to left field.

GAME TWO: Amherst 5, Endicott 2

WP (2-0): Dani Torres Werra (Merced, Calif.) – 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
LP (0-2): Molly O'Neill (Shrewsbury, Mass.) – 1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB
SV (1): Talia Bloxham (Goleta, Calif.) – 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

Amherst broke open a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning with three runs and never looked back.

Katie Watts (Swampscott, Mass.) drove in the Gulls' first run in the top of the fourth with an RBI single to center, while Comtois came around to score later in the frame on a passed ball.

Abigail Gilbert (Millbury, Mass.) also was effective out of the pen as the sophomore tossed two scoreless frames at the tail end of the contest.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• First-ever game against Carroll.
• Hanchuk kept the Pioneers' offense at bay in the sixth after coming into the game with a runner on second and no outs via a sac bunt, intentional walk, foul to first, and pop up to third.
• Riley Gamache (Litchfield, N.H.) and Kaylie Leclair (Bellingham, Mass.) made their collegiate debuts in game two.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (2-2) takes on Eastern Conn. St. (11:15 AM) and Rowan (1:30 PM) tomorrow in Clermont, Florida. 

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(Photo Credit - Endicott Athletics)