MANCHESTER, N.H. – Senior Nicole Boucher (Woonsocket, R.I.) went 3-for-6, homered and drove in a pair of runs as the Saint Anselm College softball team split a Saturday doubleheader against Merrimack College at South Athletic Field. Merrimack rallied for a 3-2 win in the first game and Saint Anselm pulled out a 4-3 victory in game two.
The Hawks move to 19-10 on the season, including 11-6 in Northeast-10 play, and maintain their grip on first place in the Northeast Division with an 8-3 mark. The Warriors are now 15-18, 8-7 NE-10, 8-7 NE-10 NE.
Merrimack broke a scoreless deadlock in the sixth inning of game one when Brittany Razo stroked an RBI double to right-center off junior starter Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine). Boucher leapfrogged the Hawks in front in the bottom of the frame when she smashed a two-run homer to left-center, scoring junior Hannah Byrne (Lynn, Mass.), who walked to lead off the inning, to make it 2-1.
The Warriors rallied to take the lead in the top of the seventh as Kelsey Francher singled up the middle and Keaira Monet Perry reached on an error before stealing second to put a pair in scoring position with no one out. Trask recorded a strikeout, but Allison Berthiaume followed with a single up the middle to tie the game. Ashley Perry then reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the go-ahead run that made it 3-2. Trask retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.
A leadoff single up the middle by sophomore Julie LeClair (Taunton, Mass.) and a sacrifice bunt put one in scoring position with one out, but Alexis Perry finished off the game with back-to-back outs that stranded LeClair.
Trask (12-3) gave up three runs – all unearned – on six hits, while striking out nine and walking none over 7.0 innings.
Boucher (two RBI, run) and LeClair were each 1-for-3.
Merrimack jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning of game two against junior Paige Cormier (Rochester, N.H.) when Francher drew a leadoff walk and scored on a throwing error that Becca Armstrong reached on. Armstrong later scored on a two-out RBI single to left by Jessica Fugazzotto.
Saint Anselm tied it in the fourth on RBI singles from sophomore Emily Crannell (Wilmington, Mass.) and junior Hayley Leclaire (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) before grabbing a 4-2 lead in the fifth when Byrne scored on a wild pitch and junior Kasey Moran (Medford, Mass.) plated an insurance run with an RBI fielder's choice.
Merrimack made it close in the seventh when Armstrong hit an RBI double to center that closed the gap to 4-3. Cormier stranded her there, however, as she induced a game-ending groundout to third off the bat of pinch hitter Katie Gildea.
Cormier (7-7) went the distance and allowed three runs – one earned – on nine hits, while striking out four and walking three.
Boucher (run) and Crannell (RBI, run) were each 2-for-3.
The Hawks return to action Monday, April 21 when they play host to Bentley University 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.
