Springfield, Mass. – April 6, 2011 – The Springfield College softball team rallied in game #1, but fell short 5-4 versus the Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors. Then in game #2, Eastern Conn used a complete-game shutout by Christine Akcer to win 4-0.on a windy Wednesday afternoon at Potter Field.
The Warriors entered today’s doubleheader ranked 16th in the nation in this week’s National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll. The wins move them to 11-3 on the year, while Springfield fell to 13-10.
Game #1 — Eastern Conn. 5, Springfield 4
In game #1, Molly Rathbun scattered six hits, giving up four runs, one earned, while striking out 10 to snag the victory. Jen Joseph lost for just the second time this season as she allowed five runs, two earned, off nine hits while picking up four strike outs.
Courtney Jobin led the ECSU attack with a 3-for-3 performance as she recorded three RBI in the win. Arielle Cooper and Rachel Soychak also went 2-for-3 in that first game.
For the Pride, five different players registered hits in the game, including Tess Gagliano who finished with two RBI.
Despite traveling to Springfield for the contest, ECSU was the home team in the doubleheader as the game was originally scheduled to be played in Willimantic, Conn. The Warriors struck for the game’s first run in the second inning when Jobin cracked a solo homerun over the right field fence.
In the third, ECSU added three more runs, two of which came on a Springfield error in the infield.
The Pride got on the scoreboard in the fourth on a solo homerun by Amanda Novak, her sixth of the season. The Warriors regained a four-run lead in the sixth. Soychak led off the frame with a double to right, and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Kelly Paterson. Jobin then roped a double of her own to left center for her third RBI of the game.
Springfield mounted a spirited two-out rally in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs. Pinch-hitter Liz Milly started things off with a single, and moved into scoring position after an ECSU error. Kasey Kelly roped a double to left center to score Milly, before Gagliano slapped a singled into left to score a pair of runs. However, Rathbun would get the final out on a ground out to third to move to 5-0 on the year.
Game #2 — Eastern Conn. 4, Springfield 0
In game #2, the main story turned out to be the pitching of sophomore Christine Akcer. The righthander went seven innings, allowing eight hits but no runs. She walked two while sriking out none. She is now 6-1 on the season.
On the other side, freshman Ashley Marino also went the distance, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out four in six innings. Marino is now 5-6 on the season.
All the runs in this game were scored in the second and the third In the second, Paterson singled to right with one out. Megan Godwin then doubled to center, knocking in one run, and advancing to third on the throw. Jen Tamindzija then singled through the right side to score the second run.
In the third inning, with one out, Rachel Soychak homered to right field to plate two runs. And that completed the scoring.
In the SC third, the Pride had loaded the bases with one out, and had two of the right people at the plate. But Akcer induced a force out at the plate and a fly ball to center.
In the SC fifth, the Pride had runners at first and second, but Kelly Blake lined into a double play to the third baseman.
Springfield will return to New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play on Friday when it travels to WPI for a doubleheader at 3:00 pm.
