Bay Path Falls to Becker in NECC Conference Double Header Action

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—Bay Path University hosted Becker College in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) double header today falling 6-1 in the opener and 4-1 in the nightcap in Division III softball action.  Becker is now 6-8 on the season and 4-0 in conference play, while Bay Path falls to 9-11 overall and 2-2 in the NECC. Four Wildcats hit safely on the day including senior shortstop Lauren Vallee (Bristol, Conn.), junior centerfielder Jai Ruiz (Hadley, Mass.), sophomore catcher Lilly West (Goshen, Mass.) and junior infielder Katrina Peck (Newington, Conn.).

Game One: https://baypath.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2017-18/boxscores/20180407_hhki.xml

The game started off as pitching battle between the Hawks' senior Samantha Lee (Prospect, Conn.) and sophomore Wildcat hurler Felicia Gaillardetz (Londonderry, N.H.). Lee tossed the complete game win giving up only one run on eight hits; while fanning seven and walking only one for the opener. Gaillardetz suffered the loss giving up six runs on seven hits; she struck out nine and walked three for the contest.

Becker scored the first run on the day in the top of the third when freshman infielder Sarah Ellis (Berkley, Mass.) plated sophomore infielder Lauren Niemann (Bay Shore, N.Y.) on a shot down the right field line. The Hawks would score five more runs in the fifth including the eventual game winners in Ellis and Lee off a shot by freshman pinch hitter Mary Wagner (East Meadow, N.Y.) to the left field.

Bay Path finally broke up the shut-out in the bottom of the sixth with Peck nailing a shot to right field. Junior outfielder Marissa Sarna-McCarthy (Westhampton, Mass.) scored the lone run.

Game Two: https://baypath.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2017-18/boxscores/20180407_vy7p.xml

Again, the Hawks struck first scoring one run in the top of the second. Freshman outfielder Alyssa Columb (Manchester, N.H.) scored on an error.  Both Neimann and Ellis notched two more runs including the game winner in the fourth.  Becker would add one more insurance run in the fifth.

The Wildcats would final put a run up in the sixth when Vallee scored off a West single through the left side. Unfortunately for Bay Path this would be the lone run falling short of a comeback.

Junior pitcher Samantha Belenchia (Ansonia, Conn.) would toss seven strike-outs en route to their victory. She gave up only one run on six hits, walking one batter.  Freshman hurler Kayla Vance (Clifton, N.J.) suffered the loss allowing four runs, two earned, on ten hits. She fanned eight and walked five for the day.