Pride Wrap Up Spring Break Trip with Thrilling Game Two Victory in Extra Innings

CLERMONT, Fla. – Regis College Softball wrapped up their spring break trip this evening with games against North Central (Ill.) and Penn State New Kensington. The Pride fell in the first game to North Central (Ill.), 1-0, but bounced back to secure a thrilling 16-11 extra-inning victory over Penn State New Kensington. The Pride will return to Massachusetts with a 3-7 record on the season.

Regis vs. North Central (Ill.)

• A defensive battle unfolded over the first three innings before a single to center field brought in the game's first and only run, giving North Central a slim 1-0 lead.
• In the bottom of the seventh, the Pride mounted a two-out rally with Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) reaching first after getting hit by a pitch. Mary DeMerchant's (Averill Park, N.Y.) single then moved Beland to second, putting the potential winning run on first. However, both runners were stranded as the Cardinals secured the third out and narrowly claimed a 1-0 victory.

Regis vs. Penn St.-New Kensington (PSNK)

• Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) led off the game with a single to right field and then made her way home after a pair of errors a batter later. Gabriella Blanchard (New Haven, Conn.) extended the Pride's lead with a shot to center field, bringing Beland around to score.
• One inning later, Beland delivered a single to right center, bringing another run home to give her squad a 3-0 advantage before PSNK cut the lead to 3-2 with a two-run double in the home half of the second.
• Madi Zancan (Cumberland, R.I.) extended the Pride's lead with an RBI single, but a PSNK solo shot and RBI double tied the game at four heading into the fifth inning.
• PSNK took their first lead of the game after a pair of hits to the outfield drove in two runs, putting them ahead 6-4 after five innings.
• The Pride answered in the sixth with Burke driving home two runs before a Beland single brought Burke home to reclaim a 7-6 lead for their squad.
• The game saw two lead changes before the Pride stranded a PSNK runner on base in the bottom of the seventh, forcing extra innings.
• Both teams added a pair of runs in the eight to force another inning, where Regis exploded for five runs before their defense sealed the 16-11 victory in the bottom half of the ninth.

Inside the Numbers:

• Mary DeMerchant's single in game one marked the first hit of her collegiate career.
• Four student-athletes recorded two or more hits in Regis' season-high 17-hit performance.
• Abby Erikson (Worcester, Mass.) provided the game-winning hit in the top of the ninth, driving in Gabriella Blanchard for the Pride's 12th run.
• Chloe Beland led the Pride in game two with four hits (4-6), four RBIs, and three runs, while Bianca Burke registered three hits, three RBIs, and three runs in the victory.

Up Next:

The Pride will have the week to regroup before returning to action on Saturday, March 22nd, as they travel to Worcester, Massachusetts, to face the Clark University Cougars in a non-conference doubleheader. The games are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. at O'Brien Softball Field.