Bay Path Splits with Becker in NECC Softball Action
LONGMEADOW, Mass.—Bay Path senior outfielder Sarah Gates (Crown Point, Ind.) led all players for the day batting .571 (4-for-7) with three runs, two doubles and three RBI. Becker junior catcher Felicia Laufer (Salem, Conn.) led the Hawks batting .500 (4-for-8) for the double header with one run, one double and a massive grand slam finishing with five RBI on the day. The Hawks senior shortstop/catcher Shannon Tibbetts (Warren, Mass.)also reached a milestone for the Hawks notching her 100th career hit managing to clinch the record in the nightcap. Tibbetts went 2-for-7 for both games.
After today’s meeting Bay Path finishes their series 3-1 in their 2010 campaign against Becker taking two earlier contests and splitting today 8-2 in the opener and falling 10-3 in the nightcap.
In game one Bay Path struck first in the bottom of the second with freshman shortstop Sarah Safron (Southampton, Mass.) crossing home-plate after reaching on an error by Tibbetts. Junior infielder Kate Lowy (South Burlington, Vt.) plated Safron going up 1-0. Bay Path would score three more unearned runs in the third. Gates, senior infielder Sam Gunseth (Swansey, N.H.) and junior outfielder Katie Begin (Weare, N.H.) each notched runs to give Bay Path the 4-0 lead.
Bay Path would score two more insurance runs in the fourth and fifth. Senior hurler Jess Nizinski (West Springfield, Mass.) would plate sophomore outfielder Vanessa Chaplin (Attleboro, Mass.) on a hard single shot through the right side. Gates would score the sixth run after walking off a well placed hit by Safron.
Becker would break-up Nizinski’s shut-out in the sixth. Laufer would notch the RBI on a hard shot through the left side. Sophomore infielder Rachel Weidele (Woodbridge, N.J.) would score their first run after launching one to right center.
Bay Path would round out their scoring in the sixth tallying two more runs with Gates shellacking a single to left-field bringing freshman pinch-runner Winnie Kabue (Lowell, Mass.) and Nizinski home.
Becker would add one more run scored by the sophomore infielder/pitcher Jessica Lewis (Bellingham, Mass.).
Nizinski (12-12) would notch another conference win hurling seven innings giving up only two runs on seven hits. She had three strike-outs and one walk.
Starting junior pitcher Jessica Daniels (Webster, Mass.) suffered the loss going 5.1 innings giving up eight runs (four earned) on six hits. Lewis closed the game allowing only one hit. Both pitchers fanned one batter.
In the nightcap Laufer came up big for the Hawks in the top of the fourth after being down 3-0 since the first inning. She nailed a grand slam homer over the left center fence plating Tibbetts, Lewis, Daniels and freshman outfielder Berneide Benjamin (Brunswick, Ga.). Despite the Hawks taking the lead all five runs were unearned after a routine throwing error on Nizinski.
Gunseth started the ball rolling in the first nailing a shot to left field. Gates would follow with a shot though the left side. Sophomore infielder Meg Whitcomb (Lyndon, Vt.) would poke a shot up the middle to score Gunseth and Gates. Kabue again would pinch run for Whitcomb. Kabue would take advantage of a throw to catch Safron stealing to score the final of the inning. Unfortunately for the Wildcats this would be the final rally of the game.
The Hawks would score two earned runs in the fifth and three more insurance runs in the seventh to earn the split for the contest.
Lewis (5-11) earns the win. She gave up only one run on five hits, while walking three and striking out one batter.
Nizinski suffered the loss going the distance. She gave up then runs on 13 hits only three earned. She fanned three and walked three Hawks.
Bay Path is now 18-18 overall and 7-7 in the NECC. Becker is 10-22 and 5-7 in conference play. Bay Path will host Wheelock on Saturday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. for their final regular season games honoring their seniors in Senior Day festivities. Becker hosts Elms on Saturday for a noon start and will travel to New Hampshire to face Daniel Webster on Sunday, May 2 for their final regular season games.
