Wildcats Finish Regular Season falling to Hawks on Senior Day
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Becker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
|
Bay Path | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final (9) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Becker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 4 |
|
Bay Path | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
Dougherty, Griffith, Serrano and Agbe-Rankhe honored post games
LONGMEADOW, MASS- Despite a Valiant effort in the Nightcap, the Wildcats finished their regular season with two losses to New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Becker Hawks falling 3-0 in the opener and 9-7 in the final game after two extra innings. Four seniors conclude their careers including pitcher Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.), short stop Emily Serrano (Savoy, Mass.), catcher Mercedes Griffith (Malden, Mass.) and utility Missy Agbe-Rankhe (Lowell, Mass.).
In game one, both teams managed to play strong defense with the Hawks striking first in the top of the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) sent sophomore outfielder Katelyn MacLean (North Reading, Mass.) and junior infielder Lauren LaValle (Millbury, Mass.) home. Wheelahan moved to second taking advantage of a Wildcat throwing error. Wheelahan would score after a junior infielder Jessica Brochu (Hardwick, Vt.) single.
After this run neither team would score again with Becker winning 3-0. Sophomore hurler Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) would earn the win allowing three hits, while fanning 13 batters and walking two for the opener. Dougherty would suffer the loss allowing only five hits on three runs (two earned). She would strike out two and walk four for the game.
The excitement brewed in the nightcap with both teams knotting the game in the first and the seventh inning.
Bay Path jumped ahead early after both teams managed to score one run each in the first with the Hawks' Brochu and Wildcats' junior outfielder Katherine Chabot (Brookfield, Mass.) scoring.
Senior honoree Griffith than proceeded to notch her fourth homer of the season in the second. Chabot and junior infielder Marina Rhodes (Providence, R.I.) would take advantage of some Becker errors and score two more in the third. Dougherty would then score in the fifth after a double shot by sophomore utility Anna Meyer (Millbrook, N.Y.). Despite a four point lead with the score board at 5-1, the Hawks chipped away at the Wildcats.
Brochu answered in the 6th with a homerun of her own. She then proceeded to do the same thing in the 7th sending LaValle, Wheelahan and junior short stop Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) home. Unfortunately for Brochu her homerun was recalled and she was called out at the plate having stepped over the plate in her potential grand-slam festivities. With this error the score was now knotted 5-5.
With runners placed on in extra innings the Hawks finally broke up the tie scoring four in the 9th. Bay Path tried for a Rally falling two runs short in the bottom of the inning.
Serrano, a four-year starting shortstop, finished her career with a .281 batting average with this season being her best with a .329 average. For her career, she tallied 88 runs, 98 hits, 18 doubles, five triples, two homers, 48 RBI's and 35 stolen bases.
Griffith another stellar four year player notched a .357 batting average while donning the maroon and white. Her best season was her freshman year averaging .468, while this season she had a .370 batting average. She finished with 54 runs, 112 hits, 22 doubles, one triple, 18 homeruns and 99 RBI's.
Dougherty completes the senior four year triumvirate. She made amazing strides both at bat and in the circle. She tossed 547.1 innings while striking out 308 batters. This season was her best year in the circle finishing with a 3.84 ERA. Offensively, she also combined for a four year .357 average. Her best batting season was last year with an amazing .406 batting average. She tallied 148 runs, 138 hits, 29 doubles, nine triples, 10 homeruns, 80 RBI and 87 stolen bases.
Agbe-Ranke made the books starting and finishing as the manager, but managed to make her mark pinch running in one contest for the Wildcats.
Bay Path finishes their 2014 campaign 9-17 overall and 8-10 in the NECC. Becker advances to 16-18 on the season and a final 13-5 in conference play. With the two victories Becker earns the #2 seed in the NECC Softball Championships hosting #7 Regis on Wednesday, April 30th at a 4:00 p.m. start.