No. 8 Gordon knocks No. 4 Salve Regina into loser's bracket

BEVERLY, Mass. - Gordon College continued its run in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) softball championships as the No. 8 seed with a 4-1 victory over No. 4 seed Salve Regina University. The Scots, 2-0 winners at No. 5 University of New England yesterday, advanced to face No. 1 seed Endicott College in the double elimination phase of the 2018 tournament. Salve Regina (15-19) will continue in the loser's bracket next Friday in Beverly, Mass.

Third baseman Sarah Ryder doubled in two runs with two outs in the top of the fourth to break a scoreless tie. Pitcher Caitlin Catalanotto had singled with one and second baseman Lily Rivera followed with a walk. Seahawk pitcher Andi Nelson struck out the next Scot for two outs before Ryder delivered the double.

Gordon scored two more unearned runs in the top of the fifth and carried a 4-0 lead into the final at bat for Salve Regina in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Seahawk right fielder Jaycee Garrigan singled to centerfield and stole second base. She came home all the way from second when Francesca Galeazzi reached on a throwing error.

Catalanotto got the final out on a foul pop to her catcher and Gordon had the 4-1 victory while Catalanotto finished with a pitching line of seven innings, no earned runs, 11 strikeouts. Nelson struck out six, but walked four and allowed two earned runs in the defeat.

Six teams continue in the double-elimination phase next Friday. No. 3 Western New England and No. 1 Endicott will meet in the winner's bracket (both will advance to Saturday's championship round) while four teams will try to be the one to survive elimination and get to Saturday - No. 8 Gordon, No. 2 Eastern Nazarene, No. 7 Nichols, and No. 4 Salve Regina.