MANCHESTER, N.H. – Sophomore Julie LeClair (Taunton, Mass.) went 5-for-7, homered and drove in three runs as the Saint Anselm College softball team swept a Thursday doubleheader to open its 2014 home schedule at South Athletic Field. The Hawks slugged their way to an 8-4 win against Merrimack College in the first game and then posted a 5-2 victory against Saint Michael's College, which batted as the home team, in game two.
The Hawks improve to 18-9 on the season, including 10-5 in Northeast-10 play, while moving back into first place in the Northeast Division with a 7-2 mark. The Warriors drop to 14-17, 7-6 NE-10, 7-6 NE-10 NE and the Purple Knights sink to 1-21, 1-13 NE-10, 0-8 NE-10 NE.
Merrimack drew first blood in the opening game as Jaclyn Giovannini hit a three-run home run to left-center off junior starter Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine) to stake the visitors to a 3-0 advantage.
Senior Nicole Boucher (Woonsocket, R.I.) answered in the bottom of the inning as she led off the frame by taking Merrimack starter Haley Currie deep over the fence in left-center to make it a 3-1 game.
Saint Anselm grabbed the lead for good in the second inning. Junior Hannah Byrne (Lynn, Mass.) smoked a two-out double off the fence in left to plate LeClair, who had singled through the left side to begin the stanza, but it was sophomore Pattie Turner (Warwick, R.I.) who followed with the big blow as she blasted her first career home run to center to put the Hawks on top, 4-3.
The Hawks extended their lead in the third as senior Monique Gauthier (Canton, Conn.) followed two quick outs with a single through the left side that continued the inning. LeClair made Merrimack pay as she continued the home run derby with a shot to left that made it 6-3.
The Warriors countered with a solo homer to left-center from Lindsay Gibbs in the top of the fourth, but Saint Anselm plated a pair in the fifth to take a four-run lead. Junior Kasey Moran (Medford, Mass.) scored from third when Gauthier was caught up in a run-down and eventually moved to second when the throw to get Moran at the plate was late. Senior Gina Treglia (Fairfield, Conn.) capped the scoring with a two-out RBI single to right that brought the score to 8-4.
Trask allowed a season-high four runs on six hits, while striking out nine and walking three over 7.0 innings.
Byrne went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored, while LeClair was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a pair of runs. Turner (two RBI, run) and Gauthier (two runs) were each 1-for-3.
In game two, the Hawks went up 1-0 in the top of the first as Boucher led off the contest with a triple to right and scored on a single through the right side by sophomore Emily Crannell (Wilmington, Mass.).
Saint Michael's tied it in the second on a run-scoring single through the left side by Jenna Maksian, but the Hawks hung a four-spot in the fifth to break it open. Byrne's leadoff home run to left broke the tie before Turner singled through the left side and Boucher doubled to right. Moran's single to left plated Turner and Saint Anselm opened a 3-1 lead. Boucher then scored when Moran stole second and LeClair plated Moran with a two-out single through the left side to make it 5-1.
The Purple Knights pushed one across in the bottom of the fifth when Bethany Falls' bunt brought in Greer Lemnah to cut the deficit to three, but the Hawks would shut it down to earn the win.
Junior Paige Cormier (Rochester, N.H.) went the distance and gave up two runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking one.
LeClair (RBI) and Boucher (two runs) were each 3-for-4. Turner went 2-for-3 with a run, while Byrne was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, April 19 when they play host to Merrimack in doubleheader action that begins at noon. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @STAHawks.
