MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Regis College softball team suffered two defeats during double-header action on the final day of their spring break trip in Myrtle Beach. The first loss was a 2-1 setback to Neumann University during the first game and during the second game, the Pride fell 6-3 to Gwynedd Mercy University 6-3. With both losses, the Crimson and Gold fall to 1-4 on the campaign and with the victories, the Knights improve to 4-0 and the Griffins move to 4-1.
Neumann 2 Regis 1
Right hander Kristin Beaty (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) earned the win and improved to 2-0 on the year throwing seven innings of one run ball, giving up five hits, striking out five while issuing one free pass. Marissa Magarian (Goffstown, N.H.) fell to 0-1 on the season with the defeat after allowing two runs, on six hits and handing out one walk.
The Knights cracked the scoring column during the bottom of the first inning. Centerfielder Allie White (Woolwich, N.J.) led off the bottom frame with a single and followed the base knock by stealing second base, advancing into scoring position with no outs. Magarian retired the next two batters via a ground out and fly out, but cleanup hitter Danielle Grayson (Williamstown, N.J.) ripped a single that plated White and gave Neumann the early 1-0 advantage.
The Pride responded by knotting up the score a few innings later during the top half of the fourth inning. Right fielder Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.) opened up the frame by depositing a single to the outfield. Number three hitter third basemen Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) followed byr ipping a single which led Regis to have runners on second and first with no outs. Cleanup hitter Alyssa McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.) grounded out to Beaty who rifled the pearl over to first for the easy out, but the runners both advanced a base. Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) stepped up to the plate with a chance to drive in the tying run and Cuozzo did as she grounded out to shortstop Katie Halter (Pedricktown, N.J.). Garvey crossed homeplate on the groundout to tie the score at 1-1. Catcher Alexa NeJaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) headed towards the batter's box and had a chance to give the Pride their first lead of the game, but she grounded out to Halter ending the inning and left the go ahead run at third base.
Neumann threatened during the bottom of the fifth as the first two batters singled and stole bases to advance into scoring position. However, Magarian was brilliant inducing a pop out, lineout and a fly out to escape out of danger leaving the score tied at 1-1.
The Knights scored the difference maker during the bottom half of the sixth after a Danielle Grayson walk was sandwiched in between a fly out and a groundout that moved Grayson into scoring position. Leftfielder Megan Williams (Ingleside, Md.) stepped up to the plate for a crucial moment in the ballgame with two-outs and a runner in scoring position. Williams got the best of Magarian as she stroked a two-out RBI double that scored Grayson from second base as Neumann went up 2-1 late in the contest.
Beaty made quick work of the Pride during the squads last at bats as she got a swinging strikeout, a groundout to short and a pinch hitter to strike out looking to end the ballgame.
Kirbie Garvey went 2-for-3 for the Pride while scoring a run, Alexa NeJaime and Kelsey Heath (Lowell, Mass.) also recorded base knocks. For the Knights, Danielle Grayson went 1-for-2 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Megan Williams went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and Katie Halter went 2-for-2 at the dish with a stolen base.
Gwynedd Mercy 6 Regis 3
During the second game the Pride dropped a 6-3 decision to Gwynedd Mercy. Michele Arechavala (Mt. Ephraim, N.J.) threw seven innings allowing three runs on eight hits and issued two free passes. The victory improved her record to 2-0 on the season. Katie Cuozzo took the loss (1-3) while hurling six innings allowing six runs – two earned on 11 hits while striking out six batters and handed out two walks.
During the first inning of the contest, both squads scored during their respective at bats. Katie Cuozzo singled to left field and drove home Taylor Polizonis (Cromwell, Conn.) for the first run of the contest. The Griffins knotted up the score during the bottom of the frame after Jennifer Whalen (Philadelphia, Pa.) scored on a passed ball charged to catcher Rachel Tortora (Malden, Mass.).
Gwynedd Mercy put the game out of reach during the bottom of the second inning after scoring three runs. Jessica Behr (Philadelphia, Pa.) broke the tie when she doubled to left and plated Amanda Hesson (Levittown, Pa.). The Griffins added two more runs during the frame when Jennifer Whalen (Philadelphia, Pa.) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by Cuozzo. Behr, who already reached base via a double scored on the error. Jessica Mower (Hatfield, Pa.) also chipped in with a single towards center field that drove in Whalen. Both teams traded two runs apiece during the next two frames, but the Pride couldn't close the gap anymore and fell to the Griffins 6-3.
Cuozzo helped out her own cause going 2-for-4, driving in a pair, Alex NeJaime also had an RBI during the defeat and Kirbie Garvey went 2-for-4 and scored two runs. For the Griffins, Jessica Mower had two hits and two RBIs while Tara Matteo and Jessica Behr also drove in a run apiece.
The Pride ship back up to Weston and have a lengthy layoff until they return to action to square off against Newbury for a double-header on Saturday, March 21st at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.