Softball Drops NECC Twinbill to Becker

The Bay Path University softball squad dropped a pair of games to visiting Becker College during a New England Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Ryan Field Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats dip to 3-9 overall and 0-4 in the NECC, while the Hawks rise to 3-1 in league play and 10-10 on the season.

In between games of today's doubleheader, Bay Path honored players from their 2018 NECC Championship squad and distributed championship rings during their ring ceremony.

Game 1: Becker 7, Bay Path 4

The Hawks jumped on the scoreboard early in the opening game as Becker senior Vasia Murphy (Dracut, Mass.) launched a three-run home run to stake Becker to a 3-0 advantage. Leading 4-0 in the fourth, the Hawks continued to add to their lead with a solo home run from freshman Emily Iacovelli (Northbridge, Mass.) and an RBI single from Murphy to make it a 7-0 score. The WIldcats mounted a late rally trailing 7-1 behind a two-run triple from senior Madison Goodhart (Pawtucket, R.I.) in the sixth and an RBI single from sophomore Kayla Vance (Clifton, N.J.) in the seventh, but they would come up short, falling to Becker 7-4.

Goodhart went the distance for the Wildcats, surrendering seven runs, five earned, with three strikeouts. Becker freshman Ashley Veillette (Danielson, Conn.) allowed four runs, two earned, with three strikeouts in a complete game victory.

Game 2: Becker 6, Bay Path 4

After two scoreless innings, the Hawks cracked the scoreboard with an RBI single from Murphy, who then came around to score on a two-run single from Veillette to hand Becker a 3-0 lead. Bay Path chipped away at the gap in the bottom of the frame as Vance scored on an RBI groundout from senior Marissa Sarna-McCarthy (Southampton, Mass) and then freshman Meghan Connors (Pawtucket, R.I.) laced an RBI single up the middle to make it a 3-2 game.

Becker created separation behind an RBI single from senior Kelsey Weston (Hampstead, N.H.) in the sixth, and an RBi single from junior Samantha Buzgo (Beacon Falls, N.Y.) in the seventh. Bay Path attempted a comeback in the seventh behind a two-run triple from Sarna-McCarthy, but it wasn't enough as the Hawks edged the Wildcats, 6-4.

Vance allowed six runs on 11 hits with six strikeouts for Bay Path, while senior Samantha Belenchia (Ansonia, Conn.) gave up two runs on nine hits in the win. Veillette earned the save in two innings of relief.

The Wildcats will return to the diamond for a conference doubleheader against Newbury Sunday afternoon , starting at Noon. The Hawks will host Southern Vermont College in an NECC twinbill Sunday at Noon.