Salve Regina sweep of Endicott clinches second seed for Seahawks

BEVERLY, Mass. - The Endicott softball team hosted Salve Regina on Tuesday afternoon for a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader. Salve Regina brought its offensive game as the Seahawks lifted to a 6-1 victory in game one and a 10-2 victory in game two. Endicott falls to 15-14 (11-4 CCC) while Salve Regina improves to 19-15 (12-4 CCC).

Endicott will take the field next tomorrow as they travel to the two-time reigning national champions, No. 1 Tufts for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. The Seahawks will travel to MIT on Friday for a rescheduled doubleheader from March 31.

Game One: Salve Regina 6, Endicott 1

In game one junior Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) took the circle and hurled a complete game while dropping just her third of the season in the tough loss. The junior threw 100 pitches on 34 batters faced for a 100-71 pitch count and three strikeouts. Her counterpart, junior Nicole Parry (Quincy, Mass.) also hurled a complete game boasting seven strikeouts while allowing just seven hits on 30 batters faced.

The Seahawks got on the board early in the top of the first as junior Genevieve Benoit (Swampscott, Mass.) singled to right center to send sophomore Nikki Bukovsky (South Westport, Conn.) around the bases from second. The next batter, sophomore Kara O'Riley (Acton, Mass.) followed with her third homerun of the season for the 3-0 score.

After a 1-2-3 top of the first for the Gulls, Salve Regina added two more runs in the top of the second. With the bases loaded Benoit would single to center field to send two teammates home to take the 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.

Salve Regina would earn their final run of the day in the top of the fourth as Bukovsky scored off an infield error. The Blue and Green would find a tally on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Hannah Graney (Acton, Mass.) crossed home plate off a single by freshman Stephanie Cameron (Milford, Conn.).

Both sides were scoreless in the seventh to secure the 6-1 victory for the Seahawks.

Game Two: Salve Regina 10, Endicott 2

In game two sophomore Leigh Wyman (South Freeport, Maine) took the circle and hurled two innings, while freshman Mikaela Mallozzi (Shelton, Conn.) came in and pitched the final five. Wyman faced 16 batters with a 57-36 pitch count, while Mallozzi faced 26 with a 59-46 count.

Offensively, junior Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) held to two RBI's for the Gulls while Bukovsky lead Salve Regina with three.

Salve Regina got on the board first in the top of the second as sophomore Skye Hart (South Hope Valley, R.I.) sent a double to left center to send one in for the 1-0 score. Bukovsky would kick the lead up to three as she then singled to left center to send two around the bases to close out the inning.

In the top of the third the Seahawks would add four more runs to the scoreboard with solo RBI's from Bukovsky, sophomore Lauren Fountain (South Cheshire, Conn.), freshman Courtney Nowicki (Northford, Conn.) and freshman Francesca Galeazzi (Lynn, Mass.).

Endicott would finally answer back in the bottom of the third as Hoffman doubled to left center to send sophomore Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) home from third. After two more Seahawks runs in the top of the fifth, Hoffman added her second RBI of the game with her second straight double to right center to again put McNeill home from third.