MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College softball team swept another two games in Myrtle Beach on Saturday, defeating Shippensburg, 1-0, in the first game. The Hawks followed up with a thrilling 11-2 win over Le Moyne in the second game of the day.
The Hawks, who entered play ranked 17th by the National Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll, are now 4-0 on the year. The Raiders fall to 3-1 while the Dolphins drop to 2-2.
Senior Shannon Colson (Rochester, N.H.) highlighted game one with the lone RBI against the Raiders. Later in the day, senior Maggie Murphy (Scarborough, Maine) drove in a career-high five runs with four coming off a grand slam in the third inning of game two against the Dolphins. Murphy is also now in a tie for seventh in the all-time walks list with 46 alongside Jackie Giannino '11 and Brittany Birch '09.
No. 17 Saint Anselm 1, Shippensburg 0 | Box Score
The Hawks defeated Shippensburg 1-0 as senior Morgan Perry (Bethany, Conn.) and sophomore McKenna Smith (Old Town, Maine) combined to throw a shutout. The Hawks totaled 12 strikeouts with eight came from Perry.
The Raiders had one of their best scoring chances in the top of the third innings. Following a Kayla Bonawitz walk, Shippensburg had runners on first and second with two outs. Next at-bat, both runners took off and stole the next base. Perry and the Hawks defense denied any chance of scoring with a ground ball and fly ball.
Sophomore Kylie Fitzpatrick (Danville, N.H.) started the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off double to left field. Head Coach Jill Gagnon subbed in Kate Irwin (Milford, Mass.) to pinch run. Colson brought in Irwin from second after hitting a double down the left field line.
Perry got the win for the Hawks. She lasted five innings, allowing four hits and zero runs while striking out eight. Smith threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Smith recorded the last six outs to earn the save. Tressa Kagarise of the Raiders allowed one run on five hits over six innings, striking out five.
No. 17 Saint Anselm 11, Le Moyne 2 | Box Score
The Hawks started the game on fire, scoring eight runs in the first three innings to build a large enough lead that the Dolphins were unable to come back from.
Saint Anselm opened up scoring in the first inning. Junior Bre Klaiber (Ironton, Ohio) doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring two runs. Murphy helped add another run to the Hawks advantage by a single to right field, driving in sophomore Bailey Cain (Wellington, Fla.).
The Hawks increased the pressure in the third inning, bringing in five runs. With runners on first and second, Cain drilled a line drive through the left side, scoring Klaiber. Colson followed by drawing a walk to load the bases. Murphy came up big and hit a grand-slam over the center field wall, earning an 8-0 lead.
In the next half inning, Jillian McManus of the Dolphins followed up with a two-run home run, cutting the deficit to six runs. Neither team would score until the top of the fifth when Colson drove in senior Erin Thompson (Newton, N.H.) on a line-drive single. Later in the inning, junior Lauren Washburn (Carmichael, Calif.) secured the Hawks victory with a two-run single, making it 11-2.
Junior Courtney Fisher (Taunton, Mass.) started and surrendered two runs on three hits over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two and walking none. Smith threw two and a third innings in relief out of the bullpen, registering her second win of the season.
Skylar Rechnar started the game for Le Moyne, allowing four runs on three hits over two innings while striking out two. Lauren Nichols and McKenzie Bergdoll entered the game as relief, throwing two innings and one inning, respectively.
Cain, Murphy, and Thompson all collected multiple hits for Saint Anselm.
Saint Anselm wraps up its trip in Myrtle Beach on Sunday, Feb. 16 with two games. The Hawks will play Millersville University at 10 a.m. and then battle West Virginia State University at 12 p.m.
