Softball Sweeps Western New England In Tightly Contested Doubleheader

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott softball team defeated Western New England, 2-1 and 4-3 (9 inn.), in conference action on Saturday evening.

GAME ONE: Endicott 2, Western New England 1

WP (10-2): Maria Hanchuk (South Windsor, Conn.) – 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
LP (8-2): Ava Blanchard (New Hartford, Conn.) – 6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K

Trailing 1-0 in the fourth inning, Chrissy Marotto (Southington, Conn.) belted a solo shot to left field to even up the score at one-all.

Both starters continued to spin zeroes until the sixth inning when Raven Comtois (Milford, N.H.) doubled down the left field line scoring Keelin Spencer (San Jose, Calif.) from second for the eventual game-winning run.

Spencer led off the frame with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Watts (Swampscott, Mass.) prior to crossing home plate.

Defensively, the Gulls made three outstanding plays that contributed to the win.

Christina Nowicki (Chelsea, Mass.) threw a runner out at home in the third, Spencer made a backhanded pick and long toss across the diamond in the fourth, and Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) rounded out the list of highlights with a diving catch in the seventh. All three plays can be seen in the video highlights.

GAME TWO: Endicott 4, Western New England 3 (9 inn.)

WP (7-3): Jaylin Couto (Taunton, Mass.) – 9 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 K
LP (7-5): Megan Beebe (Ellington, Conn.) – 8 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 4 K

Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Comtois lifted a ball down the right field line that fell in for the walk-off hit.

Comtois also homered in the fifth to tie the game at 2-2, while Nowicki (RBI walk, 1-0, 2nd) and Spencer (sac fly, 3-2, 6th) drove in runs in the victory too.

In the circle, Couto struck out a career-high (tied) nine batters in a gutsy effort to complete the sweep.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORES

• Endicott is 29-13 all-time against the Golden Bears.
• Couto pitched the longest outing of her career today.
• The Gulls are 9-1 at home this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (17-7, 9-1 CCC) hosts Salem State on Tuesday, April 19 at 3/5 PM. Western New England (17-10, 7-3 CCC) welcomes Amherst to its campus next Wednesday at 4 PM. 

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(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '22)