WESTON, Mass. –  Strong pitching performances contributed to Regis College sweeping Anna Maria College, 3-0 and 2-1, Friday night in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at the Regis Softball Field.

 

 

Andria Braga (Rehoboth, Mass.) got things started for the Pride in the bottom of the first inning with an off-the-fence double to left field. After advancing to third on an Erin Murphy (Bedford, N.H.) sacrifice bunt, Braga would be driven in on a single to centerfield by Kayla Morrill (Lynn, Mass.), giving Regis a 1-0 advantage.

 

The Pride would add to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second on Braga's sacrifice bunt. On the ensuing at-bat, Murphy lined a single to left field to drive in Burke. Murphy eventually advanced to third on a ground out and was driven in by Madison Smith (Malden, Mass.), who singled up the middle to give the Pride a 3-0 lead.

 

In the top of the seventh, Regis pitcher Jilian Glynn (Londonderry, N.H.) retired the first two batters with a ground out to third base and a strikeout. After walking the next batter, Glynn forced Raven Carriere to fly out to center field, ending the contest in favor of the Pride.

 

Glynn earned the win, pitching a complete game shutout and striking out a career-high five batters. She threw 88 pitches, 57 of them for strikes, while allowing only five Anna Maria hits.

 

 

The second game of the day's doubleheader remained scoreless until Regis put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Alex Page (New Boston, N.H.) started off the inning by knocking a single to right-center field. Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) pinch ran for Page and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abby Erickson (Worcester, Mass.). Burke then hit a low line drive to center field, and the Anna Maria fielder dove attempting to make the catch. The ball would roll past the fielder and elude the AMCAT defense as Burke circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run. 

 

After Regis pitcher Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) struck out the first batter in the top of the seventh inning, Anna Maria advanced runners to second and third on a single, an error, and a sacrifice bunt. Samantha Dahill hit a single to right field, driving in a run and putting runners at first and third with two outs. McGrath got herself out of the situation, winning the game with her eighth strikeout of the night.

 

McGrath threw 84 pitches, including 56 strikes, on the way to her second win of the season. She only allowed four Anna Maria hits without issuing a walk.

 

Regis College (5-10, 2-0 GNAC) looks to continue its success with a doubleheader at Saint Joseph's College of Maine Sunday, Apr. 3, with games scheduled for 12 noon and 2 p.m. At the same time Sunday, Anna Maria (4-10, 0-2 GNAC) will host a doubleheader against Dean College.