SNHU Softball Shut Out at Saint Anselm, 9-0

BOX SCORE

Recap, photo courtesy of SNHU

When and Where: April 11, 2018 – Manchester, N.H. (South Athletic Field)
Score: Saint Anselm College 9, Southern New Hampshire University 0 (5 inn.)
Records: Saint Anselm 24-9-1 (11-3-1 NE10, 7-2 NE10 NE), SNHU 25-8 (8-5 NE10, 3-4 NE10 NE)

Freshman Shay Sauvageau (Griswold, Conn.) doubled in the fourth inning for what wound up being the only hit of the day for the Southern New Hampshire University softball team, as it was blanked by crosstown-rival Saint Anselm College, 9-0, in five innings Wednesday afternoon at South Athletic Field.

Both teams matched zeroes through the first two innings, before Saint Anselm reached senior Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) in the third. Megan Murrell's bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left brought in the game's first run, before Shannon Colson's two-out RBI single up the middle and Jordan O'Connor's two-run double to left made it 4-0 and ended Lavallee's day in the circle. Sophomore Maddy Barone (Halifax, Mass.) came on in relief and picked up a strikeout to end the inning.

After Sauvageau was stranded following her one-out double to the gap in left-center in the top of the fourth, the Hawks took advantage of an error to hang five-unearned runs on Barone in the home half. A bases-loaded fielder's choice grounder to second, which would have  been the third out of the inning had the error not occurred, instead resulted in a run scoring when Kat Stackrow beat the throw to the plate to get the force. Murrell then drew a walk with the bases still full, before Colson's RBI single up the middle and O'Connor's two-run double to left-center made it 9-0.

The Penmen went 1-2-3 for the third time in the fifth to end it.

Sauvageau was 1-for-2, while senior Katie Horiuchi (Livingston, N.J.) walked in her only at bat.

Lavallee (12-3) was charged with four runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking one, in two-and-two-thirds innings. Barone allowed five runs – all unearned – on two hits and a walks, while fanning one. Freshman Ali Atherton (Milford, Mass.) struck out the only batter she faced.

Notes:
- Southern New Hampshire was playing its seventh game in five days.
- The Hawks now lead, 19-13, in the Queen City Cup standings, following a win that all but wraps up Saint Anselm's first victory in the four-year battle for Manchester supremacy.

Ward Homers Twice in Win Over Princeton

PRINCETON, N.J. – With 10 runs scored in just the first four innings, the Dartmouth softball team cruised to victory over Princeton on Saturday afternoon, 12-1, with a season-high in runs scored and matching the team single season record for home runs in a game with four. 

The Big Green improve to 12-14 overall with a 6-3 Ivy League mark, while the Tigers fall to 5-20, 3-6 in conference action.

Junior Taylor Ward was the player of the game for Dartmouth with two-run homers in the first and fourth innings, leading her team to the win, while Morgan Martinelli and Micah Schroder each hit one home run. Senior Breanna Ethridge pitched all five innings, where she allowed four hits and one run, while walking one batter, striking out four with one error. 

The explosive offense from Dartmouth started early, as Schroder led off with a solo home run on the

Middlebury Softball Downs Plattsburgh, 4-3

Recap, photo courtesy of Middlebury

The Middlebury softball team picked up a 4-3 win over Plattsburgh State on Wednesday afternoon at Cardinal Park. Game two of the twinbill was cancelled due to weather. The Panthers return to action on Friday with a 5:00 p.m. game at Amherst.

Middlebury took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. A single to left by Allison Quigley loaded the bases after back-to-back walks by Olivia Bravo and Melanie Mandell. Bravo later scored on an error, while Mandell crossed the plate on a passed ball.

Trailing 2-1 in the third, Plattsburgh went on top 3-2 behind an RBI double to right by Jennifer Groat and an RBI groundout by Kesley Gage.

The Panthers regained the lead in the fifth with two outs. Bravo tripled to left center and scored when Mandell reached on a throwing error.

The following inning, Middlebury scored the game-winning run. Taylor Gardner led off with a single to left and moved to second on a base hit to right field by Liza Tarr. The pair moved up on a ground out, before Gardner crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Emily Morris (3-3) went the distance for the Panthers, allowing three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts. Four different players singled for Middlebury, with a triple from Bravo, who scored twice.

Taylor Smith (2-2) suffered the loss in relief, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits over three innings of work. Groat led all hitters with a 2-4 day at the plate, belting a pair of doubles.

#21 Softball Bounces Back with 2-0 Blanking of Stonehill

BOX SCORE

When and Where: April 2, 2018 – Hooksett, N.H. (SNHU Softball Field)
Score: Southern New Hampshire University 2, Stonehill College 0
Records: SNHU 21-5 (4-2 NE10, 2-2 NE10 NE), Stonehill 4-13 (3-4 NE10, 2-1 NE10 NE)

Senior Sarah Lavallee (Candia, N.H.) smacked a two-run double in the first inning and sophomore Maddy Barone (Halifax, Mass.) made it stand up by hurling a four-hit shutout, as the 21^st-ranked Southern New Hampshire University softball team blanked Stonehill College, 2-0, Monday afternoon at the SNHU Softball Field.

After being swept by the Skyhawks in the first two games of the series Saturday, Southern New Hampshire wasted no time jumping on the board, as it struck for two in the top of the first. Singles from sophomore Jordan Wade (E. Taunton, Mass.) and junior Erin Garczynski (Norwood, Mass.) provided the Penmen with base runners, before Lavallee delivered a towering two-out double that hit the top of the fence in right field and brought in a pair of runs.

The Penmen would leave the bases loaded in the third and stranded a pair of runners in the fifth, but it would not matter with Barone working efficiently from the circle. She only once was forced to work out of a jam with more than one runner on and that came in the fourth when she marooned runners at the corners.

Barone scattered four hits over her seven scoreless frames and struck out 10, while not issuing a walk.

Lavallee finished 1-for-1 with a pair of walks and two RBI. Garczynski (run) and Wade each went 2-for-4, with senior Brittany Perdigao (Stoughton, Mass.) going 1-for-4 with a run and classmate Katie Horiuchi (Livingston, N.J.) turning in a 1-for-3 afternoon.

Notes:
- Garczynski's pair of hits gave her 144 for her career, which moved her passed Karissa Bettencourt '09 and into ninth all-time – just one hit shy of matching former teammate Lindsey Bolduc '16 for eighth. Perdigao's base knock upped her career total to 157 to tie her with Felicia Brum '07 for fifth all-time.
- Barone's complete game was her 10^th of the season, while it was the second time this year she reached the 10-strikeout plateau.

What's Next:
Southern New Hampshire returns to action Wednesday, April 4 (4/6 p.m.) when it plays host to crosstown-rival Saint Anselm College in a doubleheader at the SNHU Softball Field.

Dartmouth Takes Rubber Match Against Columbia, 5-4

HANOVER, N.H. – Without any tricks involved, but some gusty wind, the Dartmouth softball team defeated Columbia at home on the first day of April, 5-4, to win the series in thrilling fashion. 

The Big Green improve to 11-13 on the season with a 4-2 Ivy League mark while the Lions who entered the weekend in first place in the conference, fall to 11-14 and 5-4 in league action. 

Three different pitchers saw action for the home team, as senior Breanna Ethridge started the day and finished with the win, Shelby Wilkison tossed 1.1 innings and Heather Turner earned the save for her work in the seventh inning.

Along with the pitching, the defensive skill of Dartmouth was what closed the game, as Tiffany

Southern Vermont College Softball Downed 9-0, 14-1 in Five-inning NECC Tilts at Mitchell

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Southern Vermont College started its New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) softball schedule Friday afternoon at Mitchell College—falling 9-0 and then 14-1 in a pair of run-shortened games.

SVC batted as the home team in both contests as the doubleheader was originally scheduled to be Southern Vermont's home opener.

The Mountaineers (0-14, 0-2 NECC) are back on the road Saturday for their next twin bill with SVC visiting Dean College for a 1 p.m. Conference start. MC (6-6, 2-0 NECC) is also in league action on Saturday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader at home against Wheelock College.

GAME 1: Mitchell 9 – Southern Vermont 0 (5 inn.)
The Mariners went up early with three runs in the top of the first, and they padded the cushion through their next four at bats while holding SVC to just a pair of hits.

Southern Vermont senior righty Shea Wilson (Mesa, Ariz.) and sophomore center fielder Taylor Jarosz (Karaganda, Kazakhstan) each went 1-2 at the plate. Wilson struck out five batters from the circle during the loss (0-7).

Mitchell junior shortstop Suzanne Vachon (East Hartford, Conn.) went 3-3 with two runs and two RBIs while freshman center fielder Stephanie Adams (White Plains, Md.) was 2-3 with a pair of extra-base hits, three runs batted in, and another run scored.

MC junior right-hander Taylor Duchesneau (Killingly, Conn.) went the distance from the rubber—registering four strikeouts in the complete-game shutout (3-3).

Vachon roped a triple down the line in left to get her team on the board in the top of the first before Adams knocked her in on an ensuing ground rule double in the same direction. Vachon then tallied another RBI in the second when she singled through the left side to make it 4-0.

Mitchell extended the separation with three runs in the fourth—two of those coming around on an Adams triple down the left field line. The hosting team added another two runs in the top of the fifth before closing out their first NECC win of the year.

GAME 2: Mitchell 14 – Southern Vermont 1 (5 inn.)
The Mariners used a pair of five-run frames in the front-end of game two for a 10-0 advantage before Southern Vermont got across the plate with a lone run in the home half of the third. MC would notch four more in the fifth, however, while keeping the Mountaineers from climbing back into it.

SVC freshman shortstop Emma Griffith (Halifax, Vt.) went 2-2 from the batter's box while right-handed classmate Erin Girard (Savoy, Mass.) was 1-2 with the stick. Girard was tagged with the loss (0-6) from the circle.

Five Mariners had a multi-hit game including senior third baseman Megan Elphick (Waterford, Conn.) who was 2-4 with a home run, four RBIs, and two runs scored. Freshman right-hander Shyla Phillips-Krick (Griswold, Conn.) tallied a pair of doubles to go 2-3 with a walk, three runs batted in, and two runs scored.

Phillips-Krick allowed just three hits and struck out one in the win (3-3); the lone run she gave up was unearned.

After neither side could score in the first, Mitchell chalked up a five-spot in the second with the help of five singles. With the bases loaded and one out, Elphick pulled one through the left side to plate a pair. Another pair of run-scoring base hits would follow for the Mariners to put up all they needed for the victory.

MC added five insurance runs in the third—with the help of a two-run homer by Elphick over the fence in left—before SVC got on the board with a solo score. Griffith got aboard with a lead-off single and moved around to third with two down; a wild pitch then allowed her to motor home and make it 10-1.

That would be it for the Mountaineers, however, as Phillips-Krick retired seven of the next nine batters she faced to prevent SVC from staging a comeback. Duchesneau recorded a two-run single through the left side in the fifth to help herself and make way for Mitchell to walk out with the sweep.

Panthers Drop Final Two Games in Florida

Taylor Gardner hit safely in both games on Wednesday.

The Middlebury softball team closed out its spring trip on Wednesday, dropping a pair of 2-0 decisions. The Panthers (6-4) opened with loss against 10th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, before capping the trip with a 2-0 setback against Loras. Middlebury returns to the Northeast for a road doubleheader at Norwich on Friday, starting at 3:00 p.m.

The game with UW-Whitewater (6-5) was scoreless through the first five innings, with the Panthers threating in the second. Liza Tarr hit a one-out double, but Warhawk pitcher Julia Camardo retired the next two batters to get out of the jam.

UW-Whitewater broke the tie in the top of the sixth inning with two runs, starting with an RBI single by Mattie Klingenmeyer. Klingenmeyer later scored on a triple by Camardo for a 2-0 advantage.

The Panthers attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh with a single by Tarr, followed by a two-out double by Kaylee Gumm, putting runners on second and third. With the potential tying run at second, Camardo recorded the final out for the 2-0 final.

Tarr went 2-3 at the plate with a double for Middlebury, while Gumm also doubled. Irene Margiotta pitched five scoreless innings to start the game for the Panthers, scattering three hits. Emily Morris (2-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits over the final two innings.

Camardo remained unbeaten on the season, improving to 4-0 with a five-hit shutout and 10 strikeouts. Megan Schweitzer picked up a pair of hits for the Warhawks.

In the second game of the day, Middlebury had a chance to strike first with a run in the top of the first. Olivia Bravo reached on an infield single and eventually made her way to third base with two outs. Following a walk to Taylor Gardner and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position, Duhawk pitcher Emily Reilly recorded the third out.

Loras (10-8) countered in its initial at bat with a run, as Ashley Lentine and Shannon Coyle started the inning with back-to-back doubles to right center.

In the fifth inning, Loras seemed poised to build on its lead, but a key double play ended the threat. The Duhawks had the bases loaded and one out, but a squeeze-bunt attempt failed, as Morris caught the pop up and quickly threw to Bravo covering the bag at third to get out of the inning.

Loras did tack on an insurance run in the sixth when Melanie Gerbig singled home Bria Lenen for a 2-0 advantage.

Reilly retired the Panthers in order in the top of the seventh, finishing the game with a three-hit shutout with three strikeouts.

Mandell, Gardner and Ali Della Volpe each had hits for Middlebury, while Morris was steady in the circle with a complete game. She gave up two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Middlebury Falls to Wellesley, Blanks D’Youville in Florida

Kati Daczkowski picked up three hits in the two games on Tuesday.

Middlebury split two games in Florida on Tuesday, falling to Wellesley 5-4, before posting a 2-0 shutout against D'Youville. The Panthers (6-2) conclude its southern trip Wednesday, facing 10th-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater at 9:00 a.m. and Loras at 11:30 a.m.

Wellesley (2-5) jumped out to an early lead in the opening game of the day, plating an unearned run in the bottom of the second inning. Gen Brittingham led off with a single and crossed home plate on an infield error for a 1-0 lead.

The Panthers quickly responded, tying the game in the next half inning on back-to-back doubles. Kati Daczkowski belted a one-out double to left field and scored on a two-base hit down the left-field line by Olivia Bravo.

The Blue reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring a pair of runs to make it a 3-1 contest. Amanda Manning had an RBI double and later scored on a Middlebury miscue.

Middlebury got back to within a run at 3-2 in the fourth, when Ali Della Volpe raced home from third on a throwing error. An inning later, the Panthers scored twice on a two-run home run to left-center field by Melanie Mandell for their first lead of the game at 4-3.

Wellesley tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single by Jessica Budz and won the contest with one out in the seventh. Amanda Kim scored the deciding run for the Blue on a wild pitch.

Daczkowski went 3-3 for the Panthers with a double and two runs scored, while Mandell went 2-4 with a homer and two RBI. Emily Morris went the distance in the circle, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts.

Seven different players recorded a hit for Wellesley, with Manning collected a double and an RBI. Sydney Hopper earned the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, while starter Madeline Bianchi yielded four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings of work.

In the triumph over D'Youville (4-6), Middlebury scored the only run it would need in the first inning when Mandell doubled to left and scored on a two-base hit by Allison Quigley to center field.

The Panthers plated the game's other run in the bottom of the third, as Quigley got aboard with a one-out single and came around to score on a single by Emily Moore.

That was all Quigley needed on the circle, tossing 5.1 scoreless innings, while Morris retired all five batters she faced for the save. The win was Quigley's third of the season and the 33rd of her career, moving her into sole possession of second place on the program's all-time wins list. Quigley also went 2-2 at the plate with a run scored and one RBI. Moore's RBI single in the third extended her hitting streak to a season-opening eight games.

Brittaney Goodrich suffered the loss for the Spartans, throwing a complete game, while five different players collected hits at the plate.

Southern Vermont College Softball Defeats Pine Manor 12-0 in Five to Finish Season with Doubleheader Split

Recap, photo courtesy of Southern Vermont College

BENNINGTON, Vt. — The Southern Vermont College softball team concluded its 2016 season Sunday afternoon at Willow Park, falling 8-7 to Pine Manor College in a close doubleheader opener before surging to a 12-0 win in the backend for the share.

SVC led 5-3 after the fifth in game one, but the visiting Gators came back with three in the sixth and two more in the top of the seventh to grab a two-run upper hand. The Mountaineers closed it to one with a lone score in the home half of the final frame, but they would be unable to push the tying run across as PMC finished off the victory.

Southern Vermont then put up two runs in the first inning of game two before extending its advantage with six more in the second. SVC tacked up four additional runs through the next two boxes while holding the Gators to just three hits for the early-ending shutout.

The Mountaineers finish the season with a 4-24 overall record.

SVC senior captain Rachel Robtoy (Baltic, Conn.) concluded her collegiate career on Sunday,