Garrigan getting hot bat; slugs Seahawks to sweep

MILTON, Mass. (March 29, 2019) -- Why wait until Sunday? With Salve Regina University and Curry College looking at foul weather for later this weekend, the two softball teams got their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader moved up to Friday at the Colonels home site, D. Forbes Field. The Seahawks enjoyed the advance play date the most with a sweep of the Colonels, 9-0 in a five-inning opener before a 5-3 last-at-bat victory in the nightcap.

Salve Regina sophomore outfielder Jaycee Garrigan (Uxbridge, Mass.) went 4-for-5 with six RBI and three runs scored in the two games. In the opener, she slugged her first homer of the season in the second inning, a two-run shot to right field following a leadoff double by shortstop Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H.). Garrigan made it a 5-0 game the next inning when Nikki Vanelli (Quakertown, Pa.) walked with one out, Riley singled to short, and Garrigan launched her second moon shot to left field.

The Seahawks scored four more in the fifth after two were out. Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass.) singled up the middle and Tuesday night's hero, Maddie Machado (Westport, Mass.), earned a walk. Vanelli struck her second homer of the season to left center.

Riley reached with her third straight hit, stole second, and came home on Garrigan's single to right field.

Starting pitcher Andi Nelson (Candia, N.H.) struck out six and allowed just five baserunners to earn her third complete-game shutout of the season and a team-best sixth victory.

Florent led off the nightcap with a double before stealing third and coming home on a Vanelli single. Vanelli scored on a two-out single by catcher Holly Kathios (Pelham, N.H.) for a quick 2-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Courtney Latta (Lowell, Mass.) had an RBI groundout in the fourth for a 3-1 Seahawk lead. The Colonels reached her for two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth after two were out. Nelson came in relief to retire the final out of the frame on strikes.

In the top of the seventh, Vanelli and Riley had back-to-back singles with no outs. Vanelli out trying to steal third while Riley moved to second before the Colonels walked Garrigan. Kathios delivered a clutch double to right center to bring Riley and Garrigan in with the go-ahead runs.

In its last at bats, Curry had runners at second and third with one out, but Nelson got a comebacker to hold the runners and get the second out before a fly ball to Garrigan ended the game and sweep completed for Salve Regina. Nelson improves to 7-2 on the season.

The Seahawks (8-9, 2-0 CCC) are back in action on Saturday when they host Endicott College in another CCC doubleheader starting at noon at Toppa Field.