Wildcats Fall to Mustangs in Home Softball Double Header

LONGMEADOW, Mass.- In the 2012 Bay Path Softball home opening double header today the visiting Mustangs of Mount Ida swept the Wildcats 5-1 in the opener and 15-1 in a five inning game night cap. Leading the way for the Wildcats was junior infielder Marissa Stone (Londonderry, N.H.) batting .500 for the day going 2-for-4 with one run and one sacrifice hit. Freshman centerfielder Katherine Chabot (Brookfield, Mass.) also had two hits adding one RBI.

In game one, Mount Ida struck first with a solo shot over the left field fence by freshman shortstop Nickole Soto (Marlboro, Mass.) in the top of the second.  The Mustangs would then score two unearned runs in the fifth after some infield errors by the Wildcats.  Junior hurler Devan Meeker (Bantam, Conn.) scored the eventual game winner after a shot up the middle. Mount Ida would score two more security runs in the sixth.

Stone would break up the shut-out with her lone run in the bottom of the sixth after shelling a shot down the right line.  Senior outfielder Vanessa Chaplin (Attleboro, Mass.) tallied the RBI with a double shot to center.

Meeker was awarded the win going seven innings allowing only one earned run off of six hits. She struck out ten and walked two for the day. Sophomore hurler Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) suffered the loss giving up three earned runs on six hits. Dougherty fanned seven while walking three batters.

In the night cap, Dougherty scored immediately for the Wildcats. Her ability to run the bases smart scored the lone run for Bay Path after she stole second and took advantage of a misfired throw down to third base and scored.

Mount Ida exploded for 13 runs in the top of the second with Soto again coming through and tallying the game winner after a double shot to left field. Mount Ida would add two more insurance runs in the fourth.

The Mustangs were lead by game two's junior pitcher Denise Picard (Winooski, Vt.) who went 2-for-4 with four RBI and two runs. Meeker also had two runs going 3-for-4 and adding two RBI. Junior infielder Tiffany Hamann (Newton, Mass.) also had three hits and two runs.

Picard picked up the win allowing only three hits and one unearned run fanning seven and only one walk. Freshman pitcher Marina Rhodes (Providence, R.I.) suffered the loss giving up 13 runs on 15 hits, walking eight and striking out two for the game.

Mount Ida is now 4-7 overall and Bay Path falls to 2-12 on the season. The Wildcats will be back in action this weekend hosting Johnson State on Saturday and MCLA on Sunday both starting at 1:00 p.m.