Bay Path advances to winners bracket in NECC Softball Championships

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Fifth seeded Bay Path University upset top seeded Newbury College 5-4 to start the double elimination portion of the NECC Tournament. The Wildcats advane to the winners bracket of the tournament, while the Nighthawks will face and elimination game Saturday afternoon. In the other game of the day, second seeded Lesley University defeated third seeded Regis College 2-1.

The double elimination portion of the tournament will continue with an elimination game at 2:00 p.m., Saturday at Sweeney Field. This game will feature top seeded Newbury College against third seeded Regis College. The winners bracket will continue at 4:00pm with Lesley University teeing off against Bay Path University. The loser of the second game will face the winner of the first game for the right to advance to the NECC Championship game Sunday at 1:00pm. If necessary there will be a second game Sunday at 3:00pm. 

#5 Bay Path 5, #1 Newbury 4

BOSTON, Mass. - A three-run sixth inning by the Wildcats brought them back from two runs down as Bay Path advances in the winner's bracket with a 5-4 victory over the top-seed, Newbury Nighthawks, on Thursday night at Sweeney Field.

Wildcats junior Lauren Vallee finished 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs. Freshman Kiley Bissell batted 2-for-4, both singles. Freshman Taylor Feraco rovided the game-tying, pinch-hit single, finishing 1-for-1.

Nighthawks sophomore Alina Milauskas batted 3-for-4 with a double. Sophomore Alexis Vieira finished 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Sophomore Tina Babcock went 1-for-3 with a double.

Feraco stepped in and a hard hit single to center field scored Marissa Sarna-McCarthy and Katrina Peck, tying the game at 4-4.

The next batter, senior Grethen Hale, singled through the right side, scoring Goodhart and giving the Wildcats a 5-4 lead.

In the Nighthawks third, a two-out single to left field by Vieira scored Lindsey Clark, tying the game 2-2.

The Nighthawks took their first lead in the fourth, 3-2, on a double to right field by Babcock, a shot that nearly missed being a two-run homer.

The Nighthawks added one in the fifth, doubling the lead on a RBI groundout by Vieira that scored Milauskas.

Wildcats freshman Felicia Gailiardetz pitched a complete game, allowing four runs, three earned on nine hits while striking out five. The win moves her to 12-7 on the season.

Nighthawks freshman Mallory Stefan also went the full seven innings, allowing five earned on eight hits, striking out four. The loss drops Stefan to 10-10.

The Nighthawks drop into the loser's bracket, where they will face the No. 3 seed Regis College Pride on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in an elimination game at Sweeney Field.