WESTON, Mass. ー Stellar pitching helped Regis College to a win as they split a Great Northeast Athletic Conference softball doubleheader with Elms College Saturday at Regis Softball Field.
GAME ONE: REGIS 1, ELMS 0
After a scoreless game through seven innings, Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) was placed on second base to start the bottom of the eighth and advanced to third on a bunt by Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.). Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) then hit a walk-off single to left field to drive in the only run of the game and earn the win for the Pride.
In what could only be described as a pitcher's duel, both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the eighth inning with each pitcher only allowing just three hits and zero earned runs each. Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) earned the win for the Pride to improve to a team-best 6-6 on the season, pitching the complete game and striking out five batters while Jayden Dow struck out seven for Elms.
Burke led the Pride offensively, recording two hits including the game-winner with the Pride's other hit coming from Erin Murphy (Bedford, N.H.) who singled in the first inning.
GAME TWO: ELMS 8, REGIS 1
Elms struck first in game two, taking advantage of a Courtney Schwark single and a Regis throwing error to take a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning. The Blazers would add to their lead in the top of the fifth, scoring seven runs on eight hits including a three-run double by Kyla Cook and additional RBIs from Brandi Johnson, Nicole DeFeo, and Ryanne Fournier to take an 8-0 lead over the Pride.
Regis battled back in the bottom of the fifth with Murphy hitting a double over the right fielder's head with two outs in the inning. Sarah Monahan (North Andover, Mass.) would pinch run for Murphy and come home on a single to left field by Diana Petrarca (Coventry, R.I.). Despite getting back one run, Regis was ultimately unable to overcome the deficit.
Alyssa Ward (Webster, Mass.) started as pitcher for the Pride, going 4 1/3 innings before getting relieved by Jilian Glynn (Londonderry, N.H.). The two combined for seven strikeouts while allowing just one walk. Mackenzie Alvarado earned the win for Elms, pitching the complete game while only allowing one earned run.
After the doubleheader, Sarah Fawcett (Londonderry, N.H.), Murphy, and Ward were honored by their coaches and teammates in a Senior Day presentation.
With the game one victory, Regis College (11-24, 7-9 GNAC) qualified for the GNAC Softball Tournament for the first time since joining the league in 2017-18. The Pride are the South Division fourth seed and will head to West Hartford, Conn., to face third seed University of Saint Joseph in a first round game Tuesday, May 3, starting at 4 p.m. The winner will move into the double-elimination portion of the tournament starting Thursday, May 5, at divisional top seed Albertus Magnus, with second seed Johnson and Wales also participating.