Softball Walk Off with Split Against the Pride

PAXTON, MA: On Thursday afternoon, the Anna Maria College Softball team hosted the Regis College Pride for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference Double Header.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Thursday, April 2, 2023
• Game 1: Regis 7, Anna Maria 1
• Game 2: Regis 9, Anna Maria 10
• Records: Regis Pride 6-12 (1-3 GNAC) | Anna Maria AMCATS 6-15 (1-3 GNAC)

HIGHLIGHTS

• GAME 1
  • The AMCATS were kept off balance in the first game as the Pride starting pitcher Colby Butterfield did a masterful job of mixing speeds and locations through the game.
  • Already trailing by seven runs in the fourth, the AMCATS scored their lone run with a small one-out rally that was started when freshman Madison-Marie Romano (Lebanon, ME) reached on a wild swinging third strike. Graduate student second baseman Michelle Cilley (Dracut, MA) moved her to second with a single to left field before sophomore center fielder Rory Hughes (Worcester, MA) walked to load the bases. A wild pitch from Butterfield then allowed Romano to score.
  • The AMCATS did get four and third innings of one-run relief from freshman Paige Stewart (Auburn, MA) as the AMCATS attempted to get back into the game. Stewart only allowed two hits and two walks while in the circle. It was Stewart's second straight appearance, having thrown two-thirds of an inning at Worcester State on Monday.
• GAME 2
  • The second game was much more of a back-and-forth affair that included 21 hits and 19 runs.
  • The AMCATS spotted the Pride a three-run lead in the top of the first inning but responded by scoring two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Senior Dam Dahill (Littleton, MA) led off with a single to left-centerfield and moved to second on a groundball back to the pitcher by junior Saylor Costa (East Providence, RI). Two batters later Romano walked before Cilley hit an infield single to third to load the bases for Hughes. Hughes remained patient and worked the Pride pitcher for a bases-loaded walk to score Dahill. Stewart then singled through the left side of the infield to make the score 3-2.
  • After a scoreless top of the inning, the AMCATS worked their first lead of the afternoon behind a walk and two doubles. Freshman designated player Aine Manning (Carver, MA) led off with a walk and moved to third when Dahill doubled just inside the left field line. Romano then banged a ball off the left-centerfield fence for a two-RBI double.
  • The AMCATS made it three run-scoring innings in a row in the third. Hughes led off the inning with a walk and then advanced to second on a ground out by Stewart and third on a ground out by Kendall McNamee (Somers, CT). Manning then drove a pitch back through the circle and into centerfield to put the hosts up 5-3.
  • The Pride were not done though, as their bats reawakened in the fourth and sixth innings for two and four runs respectively to take a 9-5 lead.
  • Needing a big inning of their own the AMCATS responded. Dahill led off with a single to center and moved to third when Costa's possible double-play groundball to third was airmailed into right field. Liston then walked to load the bases for Romano who singled through the left side for the RBI. Cilley then reached on a fielder's choice that took out Romano at second but scored Costa from third. Cilley was able to advance to second on the play. Hughes then singled through the left side to tie the game at nine.
  • After keeping the Pride scoreless in the top of the inning, the AMCATS entered the bottom of the seventh with a chance to send everyone home on a happy note. Sensing something that momentum had shifted the Pride went back to the pitcher who had kept the AMCATS at bay for the entire first game. Manning started the inning with a walk, and two batters later moved cut down at second when Costa reached on a fielder's choice. Liston then walked to bring Romano to the plate with runners on first and second. Romano fouled the first two pitches off before sending an 0-2 pitch to the right-centerfield wall for a walk-off double.

UP NEXT:

Anna Maria will be back in action on Monday when they will travel to Holyoke, MA to face off in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) doubleheader with the Elms College Blazers at Holyoke High School. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 PM.

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