Springfield, Mass. – March 26, 2010 – The pitching duo of Stef Grande and Katie Anderson combined to strike out 16 while not allowing an earned run off 10 combined hits as the two-time defending conference champion Springfield College softball team swept visiting WPI in both squads’ New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener on a cold and windy Friday afternoon on Potter Field. The Pride won the first game, 2-1, before cruising to a 6-1 win in the second contest.
The win boosts Springfield’s record to 6-7 overall, 2-0 in league action, while the Engineers drop to 8-5, 0-2.
Grande was spectacular in the opener as she threw seven innings of six-hit ball, giving up one unearned run, while striking out a career-best 11 batters. In the second game, Anderson scattered four hits, allowing one unearned run, while totaling five strikeouts.
Springfield struck first in the opening inning as Bryn Worrilow laced an RBI double into left center to plate Kelly Blake. The Engineers tied the game up in the top of the second as they took advantage of a Springfield error to plate their first run. With the bases loaded, Kim Martelli crossed the dish after an error by Springfield.
However, the Pride went up for good in the bottom of the third as Worrilow came through once again for her second run batted in on the afternoon. After Kelly Blake singled to lead off the inning, she then stole second to get into scoring position, and moved over to third on a groundout. Worrilow then cracked an RBI single up the middle to plate the winning run.
Erin Flaherty shouldered the loss as she gave up two earned runs while striking out two.
In the second game, it appeared as though the Engineers would score the game’s first run as they loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning. Amanda Martori led off the inning with a walk and Erin Saari dropped a double down the left field line, before Kelly Johnson reached on a fielders choice to load the bags. However, Anderson would get out of the jam as she induced a pop out in foul territory, struck out a batter, and induced an inning-ending ground ball to keep the game scoreless.
The Pride strung together five straight singles in the fourth inning to open up a 3-0 lead. Michelle Wlosek, Worrilow, and Cait Corry all had RBI singles in the spurt to give the hosts a lead it would not relinquish.
Springfield tacked on two more runs in the fifth on another Wlosek RBI single and an RBI double from Blake that bounced off the fence in deep centerfield. SC opened up a 6-0 advantage as Melanie Scuderi made the most of her opportunity to pinch-hit, roping an RBI double to left center that plated teammate Liz Milly.
The Engineers finally scored their lone run of the game in the top of the seventh on another Springfield error. With the bases loaded, Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice, as Katrina Boynton scored after Springfield’s catcher was unable to gather in a throw for a force out at home.
Christa Coscia lasted four inning as she absorbed the loss. She scattered six hits and allowed three earned runs while striking out one. Katherine Fitton came in for the final three innings and also gave up three runs, while striking out a batter.
Worrilow, Blake, and Wlosek all totaled two hits in the second game to pace Springfield at the plate.
The Pride will now turn around for another conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon when it travels to take on rival Wheaton College at 12:00 pm.
