Wildcats Sweep Trailblazers in Regional Softball Action

LONGMEADOW, Mass.-- Once again junior shortstop Emily Serrano (North Adams, Mass.) led the way for Bay Path batting .714 on the day going 5-for-7 with four runs and one double. Two other Wildcats produced multiple hits in both games. Senior outfielder Vanessa Chaplin (Attleboro, Mass.) went 4-for-7 (.571) with three runs and three RBI and one triple and freshman outfielder Katherine Chabot (Brookfield, Mass.) finished 4-for-8 (.500) with two runs, one double and one triple. Bay Path took game one 15-10 and a come from behind 6-5 win over regional opponent Massachusette College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) in today's softball double header.

In the opener, MCLA scored one in the first inning freshman infielder Angelica Perfido (Whately, Mass.) plated junior teammate Kendra Hobbs (Haverhill, Mass.) off a double down the right line.

Bay Path answered with sophomore pitcher/outfielder Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) scoring off a double shot by fellow hurler/infielder freshman Marina Rhodes (Providence, R.I.). Rhodes would then cross the plate on a wild pitch.

Both teams would score three more runs in the second.

MCLA would grab the lead in the top of the fourth scoring five more runs. Senior infielder Kaitland Hagar (Springfield, Mass.) would notch two RBI plating freshman Marissa Mendetta (Rensselear, N.Y.) and junior pitcher Ainsley McDonald (White River Junction, Vt.). McDonald notched a double earlier in the inning. Perfido would again crush the ball with a triple shot to right center tallying two more RBI sending Hagar and senior catcher Kayla Koumijian (Watervliet, N.Y.) home.

In the bottom of the fourth Dougherty would add one run again coming home on a wild pitch.

Rhodes and the Bay Path defense would hold MCLA in the 5th and 6th innings, while Bay Path proceeded to score nine more points taking the lead and never looking back.

Chabot would start the ball rolling in the 5th on a double shot through the left side. She would then proceed to steal home. Junior utility Jennifer Scionti (Cromwell, Conn.) would also take advantage of some throwing errors and score on the same play. Next, sophomore infielder Nicole Dexter (Delanson, N.Y.) would single down the left line. Dougherty would again have a big at bat shellacking a double shot to left field plating Dexter. Chaplin and Dougherty would then score on some errors by MCLA. Dougherty's run would eventually become the game winner.

The Wildcats would again come on strong in the 6th with Serrano, sophomore catcher Mercedes Griffith (Nalkden, Mass.), senior Emily Evans (Westford, Mass.) and Chaplin all scoring. Chaplin would tally her first triple this season plating Evans.

MCLA would add one more run in the seventh falling short of a comeback.

Rhodes would earn her second win on the season giving up ten run, nine earned on ten hits. She had one strike out and five walks.

In the nightcap, junior outfielder Theresa West (Hadley, Mass.) would clinch the victory for Bay Path. With two outs and the game tied 5-5, West singled up the middle plating Griffith with the winning run.

Both teams remined knotted three all heading into the top of the seventh. In true dramatic fashion, Hobbs sent a home run over the center field fence despite a lengthy dispute over whether the ball went through or over the fence. Hagar would score the fifth and final run for the Trailblazers off a single shot by Perfido.

Chabot would again start the spark for Bay Path as lead off tripling to deep right field. Freshman cathcer/infielder Nicole Ogden (Springfield, Mass.) would effectively produce a sac fly to send Chabot home. Serrano and Griffith would both single to left field. Junior infiedler Marissa Stone (Londonderry, N.H.) would lay down a perfect sacrifice bunt to to advance both Serrano and Griffith. Chaplin would bat next with another single to left field sending the tying run home. West would then plate Griffith to win the game.

Dougherty (2-7) was awarded the victory going seven innings allowing only three earned runs, five unearned on eight hits. She fanned four and walked three for the nightcap. McDonald again suffered the loss. For the day, she allowed 25 hits, 21 runs of which 11 were earned. She had nine strikeouts and six walks.

Bay Path is now 4-14 on the season, while MCLA falls to 2-12. Bay Path will be back in action Tuesday, March 27th hosting Albertus Magnus in another double header starting at 3:00 p.m.