Softball Defeather the Falcons

WORCESTER, MA: On Sunday afternoon, the Anna Maria College Softball team hosted the Fisher College Falcons for a non-conference doubleheader at Normand R. Marois Field on the campus of Assumption College.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Sunday, April 2, 2023
• Game 1: Fisher 0, Anna Maria 10 (6 Innings)
• Game 2: Fisher 4, Anna Maria 11 (5 Innings)
• Records: Fisher College Falcons 2-20 | Anna Maria AMCATS 5-12

HIGHLIGHTS

• GAME 1
  • In the first game, graduate student pitcher Sabrina Liston (Rehoboth, MA) threw a complete game two-hitter, striking out 10 in only six innings without allowing a run or a walk.
  • The AMCATS scored in five of their six offensive innings, capped by a five-run sixth inning to cap the mercy rule victory.
  • In the first inning, junior catcher Saylor Costa (East Providence, RI) hit a one-out double to left field and then moved to third on a single to right by Liston. Two batters later, Costa came home to score on a fielder's choice by freshman third baseman Madison-Marie Romano (Lebanon, ME).
  • An eventful second inning opened with a pair of walks by graduate student shortstop Ashley Garcia (Cornwall, NY) and freshman designated player Aine Manning (Carver, MA). Both runners moved up on a passed ball before freshman right fielder Paige Stewart (Auburn, MA) loaded the bases when the first baseman dropped a throw by the third baseman. Graduate student second baseman Michelle Cilley (Dracut, MA) then hit a towering fly ball to right field that the right fielder couldn't handle but the center fielder recovered to get Stewart at second for a fielder's choice that scored Garcia from third. After Cilley stole second, senior first baseman Sam Dahill (Littleton, MA) then hit a long sacrifice fly ball to center field to score Manning with the AMCATS second run of the inning.
  • After a scoreless third inning, the AMCATS fired the offense back up in the fourth with two outs. Dahill singled through the left side of the infield and was pinch run for by freshman Suzette Scheer (Unionville, CT). Costa then promptly brought Scheer around to score on a double to the right-centerfield wall.
  • In the fifth inning, Liston led off the inning with a single through the five-and-a-half hole and was pinch run for by freshman Samantha Wozniak (Framingham, MA). Senior left fielder Kendall McNamee (Somers, CT) moved her over with a sac bunt back to the pitcher and then Romano moved her along with a long fly ball to left. Garcia then scored the freshman with the AMCATS fifth run of the game with a single to left field.
  • The AMCATS' biggest inning of the game came in the sixth. Cilley led off with a single to left and moved to second two batters later when the third baseman couldn't handle a lined shot off the bat of Costa. Freshman Shayla Blair (Conroe, TX) came on as a pinch runner for Costa. Liston then hit a ground ball to the shortstop but Cilley was able to avoid her tag to load the bases for McNamee. Another error by the third baseman allowed McNamee to bring home Cilley and kept the bases full. Romano then worked a walk for her second RBI of the game. To finish off the game Garcia then hit a walk-off mercy-rule bases-clearing three-run double.
• GAME 2
  • The AMCATS spotted the Falcons a three spot in the top of the first but came back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the second. Romano, Garcia, and sophomore center fielder Rory Hughes (Worcester, MA) all walked to load the bases. Romano scored on a wild pitch. Cilley then beat out an infield hit to the shortstop that scored Garcia from third. The first baseman's throw to third to try and get Hughes was late but allowed Cilley to take second. Freshman designated player Aurora Van Wormer (Swift Current, SK) then loaded the bases with a walk. Dahill then scored Hughes with a ground ball to short that cut down Cilley at third. Costa then scored Van Wormer from second with a single to center to put the AMCATS in front 4-3.
  • The Falcons would tie the game again in the top of the third, but the AMCATS broke the tie in the bottom of the inning. After McNamee walked and Romano was hit by a pitch, Garcia hit a ground ball to the third baseman who stepped on the bag to get McNamee but her throw across the diamond handcuffed the first baseman and kicked into the outfield allowing Garcia to move to second. The right fielder's throw home to try and get Romano went high and allowed her to score easily.
  • The largest offensive explosion of the day for either team came from the AMCATS in the bottom of the fourth when the cats put up a half dozen on the Falcons. With one out, Dahill singled to left center, and Costa walked. Liston then brought Dahill home with a single down the left-field line. Wozniak then ran for Liston and Romano was hit by a pitch for the second time to load the bases. Garcia worked an RBI walk and then Hughes drove home two with an RBI single through the left side of the infield scoring Romano and Wozniak. Cilley then capped the AMCATS offensive day with a two-run double to right center scoring Hughes and Garcia.
  • Liston was the winning pitcher in both ends of the doubleheader to improve her season record to 3-7. In the second game, she struck out five over five innings while scattering five hits and allowing only one walk.

UP NEXT:

Anna Maria will be back in action on Monday when they will travel to Worcester State for a non-conference doubleheader with the Lancers at Rockwood Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 4 PM.

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