Seventh inning rally lifts Anna Maria to split with Endicott

Game Two Recap:  Endicott 4, Anna Maria 5

Endicott took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning before the Anna Maria awoke for four runs to pick up its first conference win of the year.  Jill Hurley's (Worcester, Mass.) sacrifice fly to left field with one out scored Sarah Boyda (Oxford, Mass.) from third to secure the win.

The Gulls jumped on top 3-0 through the first half inning after piecing together a two-out rally.  Jennie Lacolla (Stoneham, Mass.)walked before Hayley Hovhanessian (Farmington, Conn.) stepped up and laced a double to deep center.  Lacolla met the throw at home and dislodged the ball from the catcher, allowing Hovhanessian to score from third.  Brett kept the inning alive with a single through the left side before Byrne Katz (Trumbull, Conn.) drove her home with an infield single.

Boyda led off the bottom of the second with a single up the middle before stealing second and advancing to third on a ground out byTabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, Mass.).  An error later allowed Boyda to score and keep the AMCATS within striking distance.

Endicott's Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) and Anna Maria's Hackenson settled down from there as both teams went scoreless through the next three innings.

Lacolla led off with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning, her third of the year, to give the Gulls a 4-1 lead. 

Anna Maria's seventh inning rally was ignited by three straight singles.  Dominique Marchard (Mendon, Mass.) and Kayla Cummings (Auburn, Maine) each reached base before Samantha Putis' (Charlton, Mass.) RBI single scored Marchard from second.  O'Connor struck out the next batter before Boyda connected for her second hit of the game to score Cummings and cut the deficit to one. 

Bortolotti got the call in relief and inherited runners on the corners with one out.  Ruggeri singled to left field to score Moran from third before an infield single loaded the bases, setting the stage for Hurley's sacrifice fly. 

Endicott stranded ten runners in the loss included two in the sixth and one in the seventh. 

The Gulls return to action tomorrow for their home opener against Gordon beginning at 3:00 pm.  The AMCATS will travel to New England College tomorrow for another conference double-header beginning at 3:30 pm.    

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information

Release Courtesy of Endicott Sports Information