MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College softball team picked up a pair of victories on Sunday, defeating Millersville, 11-2, and West Virginia State, 3-2.
The Hawks, ranked 17th in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Division II Preseason Poll, move to a perfect 6-0 on the year which is the best start in program history. The Marauders fall to 2-3 on the year while the Yellow Jackets are now 8-6.
Against the Marauders, it was a five-run sixth inning for Saint Anselm that made the difference in the game, thanks to the eighth career home run by junior Maddi Leite (Cumberland, R.I.). Junior Lauren Washburn (Carmichael, Calif.) drove in a team-high three runs including her third career home run. She finished the day with three hits. Also in the Hawks win over Millersville, senior Shannon Colson (Rochester, N.H.) was one steal away from Kathleen Gallagher '83 who holds the most steals in a single game in program history with five.
In game two against the Yellow Jackets, senior Morgan Perry (Bethany, Conn.) dominated the circle, allowing four hits in the complete game. She also fanned 13 batters in the win. For Perry, it is also her 60th win of her career on the Hilltop, which puts her in a tie with Andrea Messina '03 in second place in the program history.
No. 17 Saint Anselm 10, Millersville 2 (6 inn.) | Box Score
The Hawks cruised to a 10-2 victory over Millersville which was led by an offensive outburst early. Saint Anselm got the momentum started in the first inning when Washburn homered on a 1-0 count, scoring two runs.
In the next inning, senior Erin Thompson (Newton, N.H.) ripped a double down the left field line, scoring one to extend the Hawks lead to 3-0. Senior Maggie Murphy (Scarborough, Maine) kept the offense going by hitting a single which brought Thompson home. Those hits helped the Hawks to a 4-0 lead after the second inning. After sophomore Bailey Cain (Wellington, Fla.) advanced to second off a passed ball in the fourth, Murphy converted on the RBI opportunity and hit a single through the right side, scoring Cain.
The Marauders ended the Hawks chance for a shutout in the bottom of the fourth with two RBIs by Sami Fried and Rebecca Blatt. Millersville brought the deficit to three runs, 5-2. Leading by three, Saint Anselm scored five runs in the sixth inning.
Colson started off the big inning for the Hawks with a single to right field, bringing in sophomore Kate Irwin (Milford, Mass.). Colson stole second, putting herself in scoring position. Murphy followed up by drawing a walk. Murphy and Colson kept going on the base paths, converting on the double steal which scored Colson. Washburn kept going with momentum and drove in Murphy by hitting a single to left field. Leite finished the scoring in the sixth with a two-run home run over the center field wall, clinching the 10-2 victory.
Junior Courtney Fisher (Taunton, Mass.) led the Hawks to victory. She surrendered two runs on five hits over four and a third innings, striking out three and walking one. Sophomore McKenna Smith (Old Town, Maine) threw one and two-thirds innings in relief out of the bullpen. Emma Bevard started the game for Millersville, allowing seven hits and eight runs over five and a third innings while striking out two. Maddie Guinane threw two-thirds of an inning in relief.
Saint Anselm collected nine hits. Murphy and Washburn collected two hits each for the Hawks.
No. 17 Saint Anselm 3, West Virginia State 2 | Box Score
The second game was a pitching duel between Perry and Emilee Walker as the contest was a one-run game until the sixth. Perry allowed just four hits to West Virginia State while Walker surrendered six.
The scoring started in the second inning when Thompson singled on the first pitch of her at-bat, driving in one run. After that point, pitchers dialed up the pressure, not allowing a runner past second base until the sixth inning.
With runner on second, junior Bre Klaiber (Ironton, Ohio) drilled a line drive to deep right field, allowing her to go all the way to third base. In the process, Klaiber drove in Leite from second, giving the Hawks a 2-0 lead. In the next at-bat, Thompson singled up the middle to bring Klaiber home to increase the Hawks advantage.
The Yellow Jackets responded with an Emily Moore home run in the bottom of the sixth, cutting the margin to a one-run game. Perry and the Hawks defense denied any chance of a comeback by fanning the next two batters. In her 52nd complete game of her career, Perry allowed four hits and two runs, striking out 13.
The Hawks totaled eight hits with two each coming from Thompson and Klaiber. Thompson recorded one RBI in each of her hits on Sunday. Cain made a team-high 13 putouts.
The Hawks now have a week off until they travel south to Florida to play 14 games in just over a week span. Saint Anselm begins the stretch with Cedarville on Friday, Feb. 28 at 10 a.m.
