AMCATS no Match for Monks

PAXTON, Mass – Mere hours after losing two non-conference games to Becker College Friday afternoon at home, the AMCATS softball team took on Great Northeast Athletic conference opponent, St. Joseph's College of Maine at home on Saturday morning. The Monks swept a conference series Friday night against the Lasell Lasers and came in to Paxton looking to do the same Saturday, and they did just that, taking game one 13-0 and game two 8-0.

Game 1

In game one, the AMCATS were one hit by Monks pitching. Sophomore Anne Melanson recorded the only hit in a one-for-two game at the plate. Victoria Falco pitched for the 'Cats and game up 11 hits and 13 runs, though only three of those runs were earned. She also walked two hitters and struck out one.

The Monks strung together 11 hits in their 13-run performance. Shortstop Meghan Elliott and Maizie Lee each had multi-hit games. Elliott went two-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored while Lee went two-for-three with a double and a home run. She drove in two runs and scored twice. Leadoff hitter Libby Pomerleau also drove in two runs in the first game for St. Joe's Starting Pitcher Caitlyn King pitched four innings of one hit softball, allowing no runs, didn't walk anyone and struck out four. Kate Witney came in in relief in the fifth and struck out a batter.

The AMCATS were able to hold the Monks scoreless in the first inning, retiring the visitors in order. King did the same to the AMCAT hitter in the bottom of the inning and with her help at the plate in the top of the second, the Monks were able to break the game open. In the top of the second, St. Joe's plated four runs, all of which went unearned to Falco due to defensive miscues.

After a quiet third, the fourth and especially the fifth inning were loud as the Monks scored another run in the fourth to open their lead to 5-0 and then scored eight in the fifth, including the Lee home run, to give them a 13-0 advantage which would prove to be the final as the AMCATS were set down in order in the bottom of the fifth and the game ended on run rule.

Game 2

In game two, Anna Maria were able to up their production, but not by much, with three hits. Two of those hits came from the team's leader in batting average, Sabrina Carreira who was two-for-three in the game. Victoria Falco had the only other hit for the hosts while also working a walk. Designated player Kacey Rendock also worked a walk in the game and was 0-for-one at the plate. Amanda Lemire pitched all of game two for the AMCATS, completing six innings, allowing 10 hits, eight runs, all earned, and walked two.

Game two was a ten hit effort for the visiting Monks. Leadoff hitter Libby Pomerleau had three of those hits in a three-for-four game at the plate. She drove in a run and scored three times. Meghan Elliott and Madisyn Charest each has a multi-hit game as well, going two-for-three. Pomerleau, Elliot and Charest each had a double in the game as well. The Monks had a fourth extra base hit, which came in the form of a home run, their second of the day, off the bat of Kaylee Burns. Burns went one-for-three at the dish driving in two runs on the home run.

This time around, the Monks scored in the top of the first, just a single run on a sacrifice fly by Melodie Bailey that scored Pomerleau.

St. Joe's slowly chipped away in game two, going scoreless in the second then scoring two runs in the third on a wild pitch and the two-run homer. Lemire and the 'Cats defense shut them down again in the fourth but gave one run up in the fifth.

In the sixth inning, the visitors put the game away, scoring two runs, giving them the necessary 8-0 lead to run rule the 'Cats if they were unable to score in the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, the AMCATS threated with a one out single by Carreira followed by another single through the right side from Falco. Unfortunately, Anna Maria was unable to do anything with the base runners as the game ended, 8-0, after a strike out and a fielder's choice ground out to the third baseman and the Monk's headed back to Maine with a sweep of Lasell and Anna Maria in less than 24 hours.

The AMCATS are back on the field tomorrow on the road as they travel to Vermont to take on the Norwich University Cadets in GNAC play beginning at 2pm.