BEVERLY Mass. (April 16, 2022) – The Western New England Softball team dropped to Endicott College in CCC action in two very close battles losing 2-1 in the first game and 4-3 in the second.

Records:

• Western New England: 17-10
• Endicott College: 17-7

Game 1: Endicott College 2, Western New England 1

The game was very competitive from the start. The pitchers from both teams had a few strikeouts in the first couple of innings. The Golden Bears had one hit in the top of the second, but the game moved quickly into the third. Cori Rizzo started the inning off with a single up the middle, Paige Baca followed with a Sac Bunt, and Taylor Keegan continued with a single into right field. A double play made by the Gulls led to Kaleigh Blades out after hitting a fly and Rizzo out trying to complete the run. Endicott ended the third with two straight outs, then Keelin Spencer was walked. She picked up the third out trying to steal second and the ballgame was still scoreless going into the top of the fourth. The first point on the board came from a huge homerun hit by Alex Ferriouolo in the top, and The Gulls Chrissy Marotto hit one of her own in the bottom. It was back tied up 1-1. The Golden Bears struggled to get another hit on the game after that. The fifth inning went without any hits or runs for either team. Endicott did earn another run in the bottom of the sixth from an RBI double that put them ahead 2-1 going into the top of the seventh. Three straight outs ended the game for the Golden Bears losing 2-1 to the Gulls.

Inside The Diamond:

• Western New England was led by Alex Ferriouolo, she hit a homerun for the only completed run of the game for the Golden Bears and was 3-1 at bat.
• Starting Pitcher Ava Blanchard pitched in six innings and picked up the loss for an 8-2 record. She faced 23 batters had three strikeouts, two errors, and walked two batters.
• The Golden Bears had one run in four hits and allowed two runs on four hits.

Game 2: Endicott College 4, Western New England 3

Another game that came down to extra innings for the Golden Bears. The Gulls were the first on the scoreboard this game in the bottom of the second inning. A couple of walked batters and a hit by pitcher earned them a run. The Golden Bears got on the board and took the lead in the top of the fourth. Dina DiBlasio hit a single to left side and it was followed by one knocked out of the park from Kailey Carrano for two RBIs. They held Endicott to one hit and no runs in the bottom and led the game 2-1 entering the fifth. Following suit, the Gulls also hit a homerun in the bottom of the fifth to tie the ballgame at 2-2. After a solid effort, the Golden Bears did not earn a run in the sixth, and a Sac Fly from the Gulls gave them back the lead entering the seventh. Down 3-2 with one out in the top of the seventh, Taylor Keegan singled to second base and Kaleigh Blades had a Sac Bunt to advance Keegan. Next to bat was DiBlasio who reached first on a fielding error while Keegan ran past home to tie the game back up 3-3. A caught fly ball, a strikeout looking, and a strikeout swinging from Endicott brought the game into extra innings. The game concluded in the bottom of the ninth. The Gulls were walked and then Raven Comtois had a walk off RBI single for the Golden Bears to lose another close one 4-3.

Around The Diamond:

• Western New England's Kailey Carrano was a 2-4 at bat, one being a homerun, and two RBIs in the second game of the day.
• Starting Pitcher Megan Beebe pitched in 8.1 innings, faced 39 batters, had four strikeouts, had two errors, and walked five batters.
• The Golden Bears had three runs on nine hits and allowed four runs on six hits.

Up Next: The Golden Bears return to Western New England for their next game where they will host the Amherst College Mammoths Wednesday, April 20, for a 4 p.m. start time.

The Gulls remain at home for their next pair of games when they take on Salem State Tuesday, April 19, for a 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. game time.