WESTON, Mass. – The Regis College Softball team dropped the senior day doubleheader against New England Collegiate Conference rival Becker College 4-1 and 14-1 – Five innings on Saturday afternoon at Regis Stadium. The Pride finish the year at 8-17, 7-11 NECC and with the victories the Hawks improve to 15-12, 11-5 NECC.
Before the game, senior outfielder Kelsey Heath (Lowell, Mass.) was honored with a senior day ceremony for her contributions to the program. Heath went 2-for-7 with two singles in her final at bats as a member of the Pride.
Game One: Becker 4, Regis 1
Regis had a chance to crack the scoring column during the bottom half of the first as they loaded up the bases on two fielding errors and a walk, but were unable to drive home any runs as designated player freshman Amanda Navarro (Stoneham, Mass.) grounded out to second base ending the Pride scoring threat.
Both teams held each other scoreless for the next inning before Becker broke through in the top half of the third inning. After working around a single and a hit batter, Pride hurler Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) found herself with a chance to get out of the inning unscathed. Freshman shortstop Bailey Brait (Marshfield, Mass.) then ripped a two-out, two-run double to center field that gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
The Crimson and Gold responded in the bottom half of the third by once again loading the bases this time with only one out. Regis' bats could only produce one run as Amanda Navarro stroked a single to right field that plated right fielder Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.) for the Pride's only run of the contest.
Becker scored two insurance runs in the sixth inning after Brianna Herforth (Peru, Mass.) roped an RBI double to left field and Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field that plated Herforth to put the Hawks up 4-1.
The Pride could only produce two more hits the rest of the contest and could not advance a runner into scoring position.
Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) improved to 9-10 on the year with the complete game victory. She allowed an unearned run on five hits while allowing one walk and striking out four. Kirbie Garvey went 2-for-4 for the Pride with a run scored.
Game Two: Becker 14, Regis 1 (Five Innings)
Becker's bats continued to make noise during the first game as they scored nine runs and batted around during the top half of the first inning. Most of the runs were scored on RBI singles, but the big blow came when Jessica Wheelahan stepped up to the plate and deposited a bases clearing double to right center. Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.) followed her teammate with an RBI single to right field that plated Wheelahan and increased the Hawks advantage to 9-0.
The Hawks scored four more runs during the contest as Marlena Karavolis (McMurray, Pa.) hit an two-RBI single, Wheelahan singled to third base plating a run, Jessica Brochu (Hardwick, Vt.) smoked a solo-homer to left centerfield and Katelyn MacLean (N. Reading, Mass.) singled to left center.
Freshman Taylor Polizonis (Cromwell, Conn.) scorched an RBI single to left center in the bottom of fifth inning for the Pride.
Kelsey Heath went 2-for-3 in her final career collegiate contest from the number two hole.
Samantha Lee (Prospect, Conn.) earned the victory and improved to 6-2 on the year as she allowed one run on six hits while recording two strikeouts. Wheelahan had a game-high four RBI and scored two runs.
Becker returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Lesley to square off against the Lynx at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.