Wildcats Sweep Nighthawks in NECC Softball Action

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—Bay Path University hosted Newbury College in another New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) double header today sweeping the Nighthawks 6-3 in the opener and 9-8 in game two of the series.  Bay Path is now back to .500 at 11-11 overall and 4-2 in the NECC, Newbury falls to 8-12 on the season and 3-3 in conference play.  Senior shortstop Lauren Vallee (Bristol, Conn.) and sophomore infielder Taylor Feraco (Oxford, Mass.) both homered in the first game, while sophomore hurler Felicia Gaillardetz (Londonderry, N.H.) earned both a save in the opener and a win in the nightcap tossing eight innings.

Game One: https://baypath.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2017-18/boxscores/20180408_oo2r.xml

Junior starting pitcher Madison Goodhart (Pawtucket, R.I.) earned the victory allowing only three runs on nine hits, fanning three and walking one. Gaillardetz came in for relief in the seventh and only gave up one hit for the save. Sophomore hurler Madison Stefan (Thornton, Colo.) suffered the loss giving up six runs, only four earned on 12 hits. She struck out two and walked two for her seven innings of work.

The Wildcats struck first with freshman outfielder Cameille Keith (Pawtucket, R.I.) scoring on a sac fly. Bay Path again answered taking advantage of an error with Feraraco crossing the plate. In the fourth, Bay Path scored two more runs including Vallee's homer and junior infielder Katrina Peck (Newington, Conn.)taking the plate on a double shot by freshman infielder Kayla Vance (Clifton, N.J.).

Newbury finally answered back in the fifth with three runs when junior infielder Noelle Sass (Randolph, Mass.) tripled and sent two home and then scored.

Feraraco added her home run in the fifth and the Wildcats' freshman pinch runner Rebekah Walker (Webster, Mass.) scored one more final run for her team in the sixth.

Game Two: https://baypath.prestosports.com/sports/sball/2017-18/boxscores/20180408_spra.xml

The final game of the doubleheader was a tight game with the Nighthawks striking first and twice the Wildcats fought back knotting the game 4-4 in the fourth and 7-7 in the fifth. Both times the Nighthawks answered back scoring more runs. Bay Path prevailed scoring the ninth run in the bottom of the seventh with junior centerfielder Jai Ruiz (Hadley, Mass.) scored the game ending run off a walk.

Both Vallee and Keith went 3-for-5 and added two RBI. Gaillardetz, Vance and junior catcher Lilly West (Goshen, Mass.) each chipped in two hits, while Ruiz scored three runs.

The Nighthawks' sophomore outfielder Arianna Gooden (Bakersfield, Calif.) led her team going 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI. Junior utility Alexis Viera (Pawtucket, R.I.) went 2-for-3 with two RBI.