Softball Celebrates Senior Day

Paxton, Mass. – The Anna Maria College softball team was swept by Johnson & Wales University today in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action today at AMCAT Field. The Wildcats took game 1 13-1 and game two 12-0 both games ending in the mercy-rule fifth inning.

In a pregame ceremony Head Coach Kristi Lyman paid tribute to the graduating seniors on the team: Mary Moroski (Worcester, Mass.), Alicia Bonneau (Worcester, Mass.) and Marisa McCann (Webster, Mass).

GAME 1

After plating one run in the first inning Johnson & Wales broke the game open scoring seven unearned runs in the third inning, highlighted by a 3-run home run by Alyssa Babineau (Princeton, Mass.). Sophomore Kelsey Dunn (Silver Spring, MD) also picked up an RBI on a single to right field scoring Taylor Cwalinski (Jackson, NJ) who had reached base via an AMCAT error.

The Wildcats added three more runs in the fourth inning. Senior Kori Bailey (Pelham, NH) doubled home three runs to help build a 12-0 lead.

Anna Maria avoided the shutout scoring a run on a Mary Moroski single up the middle with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, Mass.) had two hits in the game for Anna Maria.

Taylor Cwalinski earned the win for Johnson & Wales pitching 3.2 innings with 4 strikeouts and allowing one hit.

GAME 2

The Wildcats sealed the game two victory scoring a combined 11 runs over the first three innings.

In the first inning Kelsey Dunn and Olivia England (Natick, Mass.) each delivered RBI hits for a JWU 2-0 advantage.

The Wildcats tacked on five more runs in the second, Kori Bailey doubled to centerfield scoring Alyssa Babineau. The next batter Arti Patel reached on an infield error by AMC scoring Rachel Rice (Quakertown, PA) and then Taylor Gardner drilled a double to deep left field scoring Patel and Bailey. The visitors added one more unearned run in the inning to increase the lead to 7-0.

Anna Maria tried to get something started in the home half of the fourth inning. Ruggeri led off the inning with an infield single and advanced to third on a Liz Clark single to left field. But both runners were stranded when Alison Villanis (Wakefield, Mass.) struck out swinging.

Melissa Stedman picked up the AMCATS only other hit in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Tayla Gardner struck out seven AMCATS over three innings to pick up the win.

Anna Maria's season will end tomorrow at Norwich University. The teams have a GNAC doubleheader starting at Noon.