MCLA CLIMBS PAST BAY PATH TAKING BOTH GAMES

LONGMEADOW, Mass.—The Wildcats of Bay Path hosted the Trailblazers of Mass. College of Liberal Arts in NCAA DIII Regional women's softball action with the Trailblazers having the home at-bat advantage. This was originally scheduled to be played at MCLA, but with an unplayable field Bay Path offered the olive branch and hosted their Northern neighbors.  MCLA swept Bay Path winning game one 10-0 in five innings and taking the nightcap 6-4 for the day.

In game one, sophomore infielder Megan Boyer (Clarksburg, Mass.) led the way going 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and one run scored. Sophomore designated player Ashley Kelley (Turners Falls, Mass.) went 2-for-3  bringing home a game high 3 RBI and chipping in a run for the Trailblazers.

Leading the way in the opener for Bay Paths was freshman shortstop Emily Serrano (North Adams, Mass.) finishing with two hits including a double.

Senior pitcher Kelly Pirzl (Pittsfield, Mass.) earned the shut-out going five innings allowing only six hits. Pirzl (3-3) fanned six and walked two. She would also earn the save in game two tossing three innings of relief allowing three runs on four hits.

Senior Wildcat hurler Alex Putnam (Topsfield, Mass.) suffered the loss allowing ten runs, only four earned, on eleven hits. Putnam (3-4) walked three while striking out one.

In game two three Trailblazers notched multiple hits including freshman shortstop Kristin Roubillard (Swansea, Mass.), junior catcher  Kayla Koumjian (Watervliet, N.Y.) and Boyer. Roubillard and Boyer each went 2-for-3 with Roubillard chipping in three runs. Koumjian finished 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Sophomore Kendra Hobbs (Haverville, Mass.) went 1-for-1 with one run and 3 RBI.

Bay Path's freshman catcher/infielder Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) knocker her fifth collegiate homer over the centerfield fence in the top of the fourth, followed by a double shot up the middle in the sixth. Griffith finished 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.  Serrano also tallied an RBI single in the sixth.

Ainsley McDonald (White River Junction, Vt.) picked up the win allowing only one run on two hits, striking out five and walking only one.  Freshman pitcher , NECC Rookie of the Week, Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) gave up six runs, only three earned, while allowing eight hits. Dougherty (4-3) fanned three and walked three.

Both MCLA and Bay Path are 7-7 on the season. Bay Path will facing NECC and cross-town rival Elms College on Saturday, April 9^th at a noon start.