Becker Sweeps NECC Double Header From Bay Path

Leicester, Mass.- Becker College swept their New England Collegiate Conference softball doubleheader against Bay Path College, winning the first game in extra innings 8-7 and taking the nightcap comfortably 10-2.

In game one Bay Path got on the board with two outs in the top of the first. After Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) reached on a single Becker's short stop committed back to back errors, allowing Dougherty to score. The Wildcats added to their lead in the second inning when Kate Lowy (South Burlington, VT.) scored from third base on a wild pitch, putting Bay Path in front 2-0.

Becker cut the Bay Path lead in half in the bottom of the second on a Whitney Buck (Old Town, ME.) RBI double into the left centerfield gap, scoring Paige Needham (Worcester, Mass.) from first.

The Wildcats got the run back in the top of the third inning when cleanup hitter Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) singled home Keelin Dougherty, making the score 3-1. Becker took the lead in the bottom of the third when Talan Barron (Methuen, Mass.) launched a three run homerun over the left field fence, giving the Hawks a 4-3 advantage.

Bay Path tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth on another Mercedes Griffith RBI single. Becker regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Paige Needham singled with the bases loaded driving in two more runs. The Hawks added another run in the bottom of the sixth when Felicia Laufer (Salem, Conn.) scored from third on an errant pickoff attempt.

The Wildcats came charging back in the top of the seventh inning. After a Kellie Lastowski (Turners Falls, Mass.) single Keelin Dougherty brought her home with a double to centerfield, cutting the Becker lead to 7-5. Mercedes Griffith followed with a game tying homerun to centerfield.

The Hawks pulled out the 8-7 victory in the bottom of the eighth inning when Rachel Weidele (Woodbridge, N.J.) singled home Jessica Lewis ( Bellingham, Mass.) with the game winning run.

Paige Needham earned the win for the Hawks after pitching all eight innings, allowing five earned runs on ten hits. Alex Putnam (Topsfield, Mass.) suffered the loss after allowing six earned runs on 12 hits.

In game two Becker pounded out ten hits including two homeruns by Felicia Laufer. Laufer finished game two going three for three with four RBI and three runs scored. Talan Barron went two for two with two triples and two runs scored. Paige Needham won her second game of the day after pitching five strong innings, allowing one earned run on just two hits. The doubleheader sweep lifts the Hawks to 8-14 overall and 4-2 in the NECC.

Keelin Dougherty took the loss in game two after surrendering ten earned runs on ten hits. The two losses drop the Wildcats record to 9-11 overall and 3-5 in the NECC.