Forshaw's gem leads Pilgrims to sweep of AMCATS

WORCESTER, Mass. (04.06.11) - Senior Bethany Forshaw (Waterford, Conn.) threw a complete game shutout in the night cap to help the Pilgrims of New England College complete a TCCC sweep over the Anna Maria AMCATS at O'Brien Field on Wednesday. The Pilgrims took a wild game one by a score of 10-7, and completed the sweep with a 5-0 victory in game two. The Pilgrims improve to 6-10 overall and 5-3 in the TCCC, while the AMCATS drop to 8-10 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

GAME ONE

Game one featured lots of offense from both sides.  The Pilgrims struck first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. After two quick outs and walk, Gabrielle Timms (Clark Summit, Penn.) stroked a double to left field, scoring the first run of the game. Shortstop Alyssa Hoot (Waterville, Ohio) then came up and smacked her first home run of the season, giving the Pilgrims a 3-0 lead.

The AMCATS answered back in the top half of the second with an unearned run, and then scored three more in the third when cleanup hitter Jill Hurley (Worcester, Mass.) launched a three-run blast to give the AMCATS a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom half of the third, the Pilgrims took advantage of three walks to put up a four spot. Melinda Robbins (Oxford, Mass.) knocked in a run with sacrifice fly to tie the game at four, before Elizabeth Harrigan (Weston, Conn.) came up with the bags juiced and delivered a bases clearing triple to give the Pilgrims a 7-4 lead.

Refusing to go away, the AMCATS tied the game at seven with three runs in the fifth inning. Kayla Cummings (Aubrun, Maine) knocked in the first run with a single to second base, and manufactured a run when her steal of second allowed Alyssa Boykin (Worcester, Mass.) to take home on the throw. Samantha Putis (Charlton, Mass.) reached on an error, bringing in Cummings with the tying run.

The Pilgrims took the lead for good in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring on an RBI double from Robbins. The Pilgrims closed out the scoring with two more insurance runs in the sixth to help close out the 10-7 victory.

Timms picked up the victory on the mound while Robbins led the offensive attack with two hits and three RBI. The AMCATS were led offensively by Cummings who had three hits and two runs scored. Sarah Boyda (Oxford, Mass.)  also chipped in with two hits, while Nicole Hackenson (Mendon, Mass.) took the loss on the mound.