Bay Path Splits Wheelock in Non-Conference Slug Fest

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—Bay Path College hosted New England Collegiate Conference rival Wheelock College in a non-conference twin bill today. Both Wildcats split the day with Bay Path taking the opener 27-14, while Wheelock earned the victory in the night cap 15-14. Bay Path's freshman catcher/infielder Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) led all players with a .889 batting average going 8-for-9, with nine RBI, seven runs , three doubles and three homeruns.

In game one, Wheelock started the ball rolling scoring two unearned runs after an error at shortstop for the Maroon Wildcats. Sophomore infielder Ashley Quan (Belmont, Mass.) and sophomore infielder Kim Perault (Medford, Mass.) scored for Wheelock .

Bay Path answered back with eight runs in the first including Griffin's first collegiate homer.  The Wildcats big inning came in the third when they took advantage of some Wheelock errors and were able to connect with some early hits from senior outfielders Katie Begin (Weare, N.H.) and Kate Lowy (North Burlington, Vt.) along with junior infielder Kellie Lastowski (Turner Falls, MD.).  At the end of the third inning Bay Path had tallied 24 runs with Wheelock trying to play catch up.

The Blue and Gold Wildcats made a valiant effort scoring seven runs in the top of the fourth inning. Five Wildcats notched hits with freshman outfielder Danielle Gaudette (Nashua, N.H.), junior outfielder Sarah Negron (Northbridge, Mass.) and Quan all nailing doubles and RBI with Gaudette plating two Wildcats.

Perault finished the game going 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBI, while senior outfielder Sarah Novak (Needham, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Junior infielder Nicole Perullo (Revere, Mass.), Negron and Quan all tallied two hits. Perullo led her team with three RBI, while Quan and Perault combined for six runs.

Griffin finished game one going a perfect 4-for-4 with five runs and seven RBI. Lowy and freshman infielder Nicole Dexter (Delanson, N.Y.) each notched homeruns, with Dexter now tallying three homeruns in her first week of play and Lowy shellacking her first collegiate grand slam.  Dexter went 3-for-5 with four runs and three RBI, while finished 3-for-4 with three runs and six RBI.

Senior hurler Alex Putnam (Topsfield, Mass.) notched her first win. Putnam (1-2) tossed five innings allowing 14 runs on 13 hits while fanning five and walking four.  

In the nightcap, Wheelock waged a massive comeback in the sixth inning after slowly plucking away at Bay Path's lead three run lead. The big play of their final four run inning in the seventh was a two-run homer by Perullo.  Zina, Gaudette and sophomore catcher Jacky Hull (Braintree, Mass.) scored the final runs with Perullo's shot over the fence becoming the eventual game winner.

Bay Path managed to hold the Blue and Gold Wildcats to 15 runs in the sixth shutting them down with three strike-outs by freshman hurler Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.).  Unfortunately, the Maroon Wildcats only managed two final runs falling one run short of knotting the game.  Senior catcher Jess Priestly (Middleboro, Mass.) and Dexter both shellacked two hard shot singles and scored with Priestly bringing Dexter home and Griffin nailing a double shot to right center sending Priestly past the plate. Griffin was left stranded along with junior Vanessa Chaplin (Attleboro, Mass.) while Bay Path saw their sweep slip through their fingers.

Perullo (2-1) notched the win giving up 14 runs, 12 earned on 18 hits.  She walked one while fanning five. Dougherty (1-3) suffered the loss going the distance gave up 15 runs, 10 earned on 16 hits. She struck-out sixteen and walked eight for the game.

Zina, Perault and Perullo all went 3-for-4 for Wheelock. Perullo led the way with three runs and four RBI. Priestly and Griffin led Bay Path both going 4-for-5 with Priestly chipping in four RBI and two runs.

Bay Path is now 2-4 on the season, while Wheelock is 2-2 overall. Bay Path will travel to Albertus Magnus for an afternoon double header on Tuesday, March 29^th while Wheelock will face Mitchell in an NECC twin bill at noon on April 3^rd down in New Haven, Conn.