WALTHAM, Mass. - The season is over for the Western New England College softball team following a doubleheader loss at the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Tounament Saturday (May 9) at Marcus Field.
The fourth-seeded Golden Bears dropped an 11-3 decision in five innings to top-seeded Brandeis in a morning winners' bracket contest, then fell 5-0 to sixth-seeded Plymouth State in an elimination game in the afternoon.
In the first game, the host Judges took advantage of three errors and scored nine runs in the first inning highlighted by a grand slam homer by sophomore first base player Courtney Kelley (Leicester, MA). She also belted a solo homer in the fourth for her sixth round-tripper of the season and fifth in her last five outings.
Freshman pitcher Caroline Miller (Bala Cynwyd, PA) (12-5) had a solo homer in the third, and gave up six hits and two earned runs with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Sophomore first base player Trish Breault (Millville, MA) had two hits, including a two-run single in the second, and scored a run Western New England College.
Freshman designated player/pitcher Sarah Lempicki (Southington, CT) contributed a RBI single.
Senior Laura Bower (Hudson, MA) (13-6) was the losing pitcher.
Western New England College collected seven hits in the second contest, but left nine runners on base.
Freshman third base player Sara Barnes (Berkley, MA) had a pair of singles while sophomore second base player Elyse Gauvin (Swansea, MA) and freshman catcher Rachel Wyrwa (Methuen, MA) each had a double.
Lempicki (7-6) took the loss.
Freshman Ali Keith (Northfield, NH) (3-2) tossed the shutout and didn't walk or strike out any batters.
This was the 100th career win for Plymouth coach Bruce Addison.
In other games, second-seeded Keene State beat Plymouth (4-1) and Brandeis (6-3) to advance to the championship round on Sunday (May 10).
The Owls (30-14) will play the winner of the Brandeis-Plymouth State game (which begins at 11:00 a.m.) for the ECAC title in the afternoon.
Brandeis is 27-16 while Plymouth is 24-17.
Western New England College completes its season with an impressive 30-16 record.
