Softball Storms Past Merrimack, 6-0 and 9-5
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. (March 31, 2011) – The C.W. Post softball team wrapped up its swing through New England by taking a pair of wins against Merrimack College, 6-0 and 9-5, Thursday afternoon at Warrior Diamond.
C.W. Post, whose win streak extends to seven games, improves to 15-5 overall. Merrimack drops to 5-8.
All six of the Pioneers' runs in game one were scored in the sixth inning, beginning with an RBI double from junior centerfielder Kerry Fisher (Barto, Pa.), who doubled to right center to score sophomore first baseman Kaci Hopkins (New Egypt, N.J.), who had reached on a double as well.
Freshman third baseman Nicole Hagenah (Commack, N.Y.) followed up with an RBI single to score Fisher. The scoring continued as freshman Angela Carmine (Westbury, N.Y.) followed up with an RBI double down the left field line to score Hagenah.
Sophomore shortstop Nicole Fierro (East Hampton, N.Y.) walked and both she and Hagenah came home in the next at bat as junior catcher Kristen Morcone (Milford, Mass.) launched a three-run bomb over the left field wall for her first collegiate home run to push the Pioneers' lead to 6-0.
Merrimack had no answer as the Warriors went 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh innings.
Senior Sarah Kiser (Arnold, Md.) tossed a two-hit shutout with no walks and struck out three batters.
In the nightcap, the Pioneers scored five runs through the first three innings. Hagenah drove in the first run with an RBI single up the middle to score Hopkins from second base in the top of the first. C.W. Post's second run was scored in the second when Fierro came home on a wild pitch.
The third inning saw three more Pioneer runs cross the plate as Fisher singled to score Hopkins and Bright blasted a two-run opposite field home run.
Merrimack scored its first run in the series in the bottom of the third when Jaclyn Giovannini drove in a run on a sacrifice fly to right field. The Warriors further cut into the lead with another run in the bottom of the fifth when Giovannini singled up the middle to score third baseman Tawny Palmieri.
The wheels came undone for Merrimack's defense in the top half of the seventh as the Pioneers plated four more runs, including three bases-loaded walks. Sophomore catcher Nicole Capella (Shirley, N.Y.) recorded the final RBI with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Bright from third.
The Warriors were still battling in the bottom of the seventh and scored three runs on two wild pitches and an RBI single from catcher Kara Melillo. Senior pitcher Christina Berardi (Raynham, Mass.) ended the threat by striking out the inning's final two batters.
Bright finished the game going 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored. Hagenah was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored while Fisher was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Hopkins was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Fierro finished at the plate going 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
Berardi pitched a complete game and allowed four earned runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out seven.
Giovannini was 2-for-2 with two RBI and Palmieri was 2-for-4 with two runs scored for Merrimack.
Gallant took the loss for the Warrriors after allowing five earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in three innings pitched. Alie Thomas came on in relief to let up four runs on one hit and five walks.
C.W. Post returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Molloy College, beginning at noon. Both the Pioneers and the Lions will be collecting money for every run scored to support Score for a Cure to promote breast cancer awareness.