Wildcats Split with Eagles in NECC Opener

LONGMEADOW, MASS.- In the New England Collegiate Conference season opener the Wildcats of Bay Path College split with the Eagles of Daniel Webster College outscoring the Eagles 10-to-8 for the day. The Wildcats took the opener 5-1 and fell to the Eagles 7-5 in the nightcap. Senior outfielder Nicole Dexter (Delanson, N.Y.) was on fire at the plate today tallying a 1.000 batting average going 7-for-7 for the day with a two runs, one double, one home run and one RBI.

In game one, Dexter went 3-for-3 while junior catcher Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) went 3-for-4. Wildcats jumped ahead first in the bottom of the third when junior shortstop Emily Serrano (North Adams, Mass.) laid down a perfect bunt to plate sophomore infielder Marissa Rhodes (Providence, R.I.) to score the first run.

 Bay Path again added to their tally in the fourth scoring the game winner plus some more insurance runs. Bay Path took advantage of some bad throws made by the Eagles defense with  Rhodes going all the way home after walking bringing junior hurler Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) and sophomore outfielder Katherine Chabot (Brookfield, Mass.) along for the ride. Griffith would finish the inning with a home run over the left field wall.

Daniel Webster would break up the shut-out in the top of the seventh when infielder/pitcher Sara Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) scored on an error, unearned.

Dougherty (4-4) picked up the win facing 28 batters allowing seven hits and one unearned run. Dougherty struck out two and walked one. Freshman pitcher Dallas Fonck (Enfield, Conn.) suffered the loss giving up five runs on seven hits. She fanned six and walked five for her six innings of work.

In the nightcap, Bay Path struck first with sophomore infielder Nicole Ogden (Springfield, Mass.) scoring on a throwing error after Griffith singled.

The Eagles opened up in the top of the second scoring four runs. After two walks senior outfielder Chelsey Crawford (Westfield, Mass.) singled up the middle. With the bases loaded Pelkey sent a shot to center field to plate sophomore infielder Heather Strong (Palmer, Mass.). Senior infielder Amanda Wilson (Merrimack, N.H.) scored on a passed ball moving everyone else one base.  Senior infielder TC DiSantis (Hinsdale, Mass.) took one for the team notching an RBI sending Crawford home. Freshman shortstop Ashley England (Old Town, Maine) sent another shot up the middle allowing Pelkey to score.

Daniel Webster would add another run in the fourth with DiSantis shellacking a double down the left line sending Pelkey home again.

Bay Path would answer in the bottom of the fourth with Dougherty sailing a deep shot to right field for a triple notching two RBI. Freshman infielder Casey Botelho (Providence, R.I.) and Dexter each scored.

With the score 5-to-3, Bay Path held them off in the fifth adding one more run in the bottom bringing it to within one rum.  Botelho tallied another shot up the middle plating freshman utility Katie Sperry (Guilford, Conn.). Sperry pinch ran for freshman infielder Kate Sirois (Enfield, Conn.) who singled to right center field.

DiSantis answered back for Daniel Webster with a homerun bringing sophomore utility Sarah Durocher (Keene, N.H.) along for the ride.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Dexter would score the final run in the seventh on her second homerun of the season. This would prove to be not enough for the win.

Bay Path is now 7-7 and 1-1 in NECC play, while Daniel Webster is 2-8 and 1-1 in conference play. Bay Path hosts St. Joseph of Connecticut on Tuesday, March 26^th with a 3:00 p.m. start of the doubleheader. Daniel Webster also hosts a doubleheader on Tuesday with a 3:30 p.m. start against New England College.