NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Junior first baseman Liz Kia (Kea'au, Hawaii) came through in the clutch driving in the game-winner in an extra inning affair to knock off Regis College, 13-12, game two to split the twin-bill, Friday evening. It was the second game-winning base-hit for the native Hawaiian this season.

The Nighthawk offense wasted little time jumping on top of senior right-hander Michaela Nejaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) and scored five runs before the first out of was recorded. Batting around in the bottom of the first inning, the Nighthawks knocked the Pride starter out of the game after putting up five runs on six hits. But the damage was far from over.

First year right-hander Lisa Lusardi (Enfield, Conn.) came on in relief in the bottom of the second but the results were the same. Senior shortstop Alyssa Donovan (West Haven, Conn.) opened pulling a single into left-field before advancing to third on a double down the right-field line off the bat of first year backstop Noelle Sass (Randolph, Mass.). First year right-hander Kayla Finacchiaro (Natick, Mass.) helped her own cause driving a double to the opposite field to bring home both Donovan and Sass for the sixth and seven runs, respectively.

Fellow first year, second baseman Alina Milauskas (Elkridge, Md.) kept the inning going with a triple to right-center to bring home Finacchiaro. The Maryland native came in to score the fourth and final run of inning on a ground out to second as the Nighthawks led 9-0 after two.

Regis was not going away quietly. A half inning later they chipped away at the lead pushing across three runs in the top of the third before having a field day of their own in the top of the seventh. The Pride took advantage of a bout of wildness from the Nighthawk first year pitcher and put up a crooked number seven to take the 10-9 lead.

However, their lead was short-lived. In the home half, Sass hit a towering shot over the left-field fence and when it came down it was a brand new ballgame all squared a 10-10. It was the south shore native's second homerun of the day as well as second in her career.

Newbury had a chance to win the game in regulation in the bottom of the seventh. Milauskas ripped a one-out double down the right-field line then advance 60 feet on a groundball back to the pitcher. But two batters later first year outfielder Alexis Vieira (Pawtucket, R.I.) grounded out to shortstop to end the threat.

The two teams exchanged runs in the eighth to move into the ninth tied 11-11. Junior outfielder Angelica Arredondo (Merrimac, Mass.) began the inning at second base due to the international tie-break rule before. After advancing to third on a single by first year Brianna Napoleone (Medford, Mass.), Arredondo came into score on a wild pitch to give the Pride, the 12-11 lead. It was not enough.

With Finacchiaro opening up the bottom the ninth at second, Milauskas wasted little time, pushing a double down right-field line to bring in her fellow first year. With no outs and the winning run in scoring position, Kia put an end to the long day with an opposite field single to score Milauskas with the game's 25th run and send the Nighthawks home with the victory.

A five-run sixth inning in game one gave Regis the 11-6 victory. Senior first baseman Alyssa McKinnon (Rowley, Mass.) went three-for-four with an RBI from the middle of the Pride batting order lead Regis the five-run victory.

Sass picked the perfect opportunity for her first collegiate career homerun. After the Pride tied up the ballgame at 3-3 pushing across a run in the top of the third, Sass lead off the home-half of the frame taking a pitch the opposite way to re-gain the lead for the Nighthawks, 4-3.

Newbury held onto the lead for an inning but Regis tied it back up in the fifth before batting around and putting up five in the sixth. They added another two runs in the seventh as Lusardi earned her second victory of the season improving to 2-1 on the year.

Newbury improves to 5-4 on the young season and open conference play up at 1-1 while Regis moves to 4-4 and 1-1 in the NECC. The Nighthawks return to diamond on Sunday March 20th when they travel to Bay Path University. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. The Pride will be back in action on Tuesday March 22nd when they host Southern Vermont College in Weston, Mass. for two games starting at 5:00 p.m.

Release Courtesy of Newbury College Sports Information