MANCHESTER, N.H. - Despite a late-inning comeback in the first game of today's doubleheader, the Saint Anselm College softball team split today's twinbill with the Warriors of Merrimack College. Following today's action, the Hawks possess an 11-15 overall record alongside a Northeast-10 Conference mark of 5-5. The Warriors overall record stands at 9-12 while their mark within the conference stands at 3-6.
Saint Anselm captured a 3-2 victory in the opening game of today's doubleheader against the Warriors. Trailing by a 2-1 score entering the home half of the sixth inning, Hawks center fielder Monique Gauthier (Canton, Conn.) slapped a one-out single to center field. Saint Anselm catcher Lauren Galavotti (Marion, Mass.) erased Gauthier with a fielder's choice, but promptly stole second base to place a runner in scoring position.
An RBI triple to right field by third baseman Hannah Byrne (Lynn, Mass.) tied the game at three apiece with two outs in the inning. A single by left fielder Mary Fay (Stoughton, Mass.) plated Byrne from third base with the game-winning run.
Saint Anselm struck first in the contest as second baseman Kat Scafidi (Hudson, N.H.) plated shortstop Nicole Boucher (Woonsocket, R.I.) with an RBI double to left-center field to elevate the Hawks to a 1-0 lead. Merrimack answered with two unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning as a throwing error by Saint Anselm led to two runners scoring via three hits and one error.
Hawks pitcher Alexis Bogdanovich (South Portland, Maine) earned her third victory of the season, striking out six batters in a complete game effort alongside only one earned run. Merrimack hurler Kelli Jo Deardorff fell to 3-4 on the season, allowing three earned runs
Powered by four home runs, the Warriors captured a 6-5 victory in the final game of Tuesday's doubleheader. With the score locked in at five runs apiece, junior shortstop Tawny Palmeiri hit a solo home run to the opposite field, placing Merrimack on top for good in the contest with the team's fourth home run of the afternoon.
Merrimack scored three runs in the top of the first inning, jumping on Hawks starter Aimee LaLancette (Mason, N.H.) quickly in the frame. Two singles to lead off the game preceded a three-run home run by sophomore Jaclyn Giovannini to grant Merrimack an early lead. LaLancette rebounded to strike out the next two batters in the inning to retire the Warriors.
The Hawks crept back slowly in the second and third innings as designated player Cara Crowley (Lynn, Mass.) lofted a sacrifice fly to center field in the home half of the second inning to cut into the deficit. A solo shot by senior outfielder Monique Gosselin in the top of the third inning was quickly answered by the Hawks, who plated two runs courtesy of a Galavotti RBI single and a Byrne sacrifice fly, plating both Boucher and Scafidi, respectively.
With a 4-3 lead in the top half of the fourth inning, third baseman Keaira Perry lined a solo home run to center field that struck the building in straightaway center field at the South Athletic Fields. The Hawks, trailing by a 5-3 margin, tied the game in their half of the sixth inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Boucher doubled down the left field line to knot the game at five runs apiece before Palmeiri's heroics placed the Warriors ahead for good in the very next half inning.
Pitcher Alie Thomas earned her fifth victory of the season by pitching four innings of relief, allowing only two earned runs and five Saint Anselm hits. Deardorff, saddled with the loss in game one, pitched the first three innings and allowed three earned runs alongside three strikeouts. LaLancette drew a no-decision for her effort, allowing four earned runs and five hits through the first two innings. Hurler Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine) drew the loss, despite pitching five innings of relief while striking out three batters.
NOTABLES: The Hawks and Warriors have split each doubleheader hosted at the South Athletic Fields dating back to Apr. 9, 2002 in which Merrimack captured the two-game sweep of Saint Anselm…Left fielder Mary Fay is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, collecting seven hits in 20 at-bats (.350) alongside three runs batted in…Second baseman Kat Scafidi has collected at least one hit in six of her last seven contests…With runners in scoring position this afternoon, the Hawks batted 9-for-26 (.346) through both games of today's doubleheader…Leading off an inning, third baseman Cara Crowley reached base in all three of her opportunities.
Saint Anselm returns to action Friday, Apr. 6 as they play host to the University of New Haven in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Penmen Field on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by following the Hawks on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
