New London, Conn. – April 19, 2025 – Behind a pair of stellar pitching performances, the Springfield College softball team defeated Coast Guard twice in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon on the road.

Springfield won the opener 8-1 before earning an 8-0 five inning shutout in the nightcap. Springfield's record improved to 19-9 overall and to 8-4 in NEWMAC play, while Coast Guard fell to 9-10-1, 4-6.

In the doubleheader, Kate Katsetos (Brewster, N.Y.), Brynlee Eckles (Ellington, Conn.), Michaela Ponticello (Gloversville, N.Y.) and Lucy Puskas (Roxbury, Conn.) all recorded three hits apiece with Katsetos and Katie Manzone (Wareham, Mass.) leading the way with three RBI. The Pride also went 4-for-5 on stolen bases and drew 13 walks on the day. 

Game One: Springfield 8, Coast Guard 1

The opener was tied at one through five frames before Springfield's bats came alive for seven runs in the top of the sixth. A leadoff error by Coast Guard paired with back-to-back singles by Ponticello and Katsetos put Springfield ahead 2-1. Then with the bases loaded, Amelia DeRosa (Miller Place, N.Y.) got hit by a pitch to drive in Springfield's third run before three straight RBI singles by Eckles, Carissa Pecchia (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) and Callie Gendron (Berlin, Conn.) made it 6-1.

Before the inning ended, Manzone grounded out to play Eckles and an RBI single by Puskas drove in Taylor Falotico (Windsor, Conn.) extending the lead to 8-1.

In the circle, DeRosa allowed just three batters to reach base but closed out the complete game win for the Pride. The junior tossed seven innings, scattered eight hits, struck out three and allowed just the one earned run to improve to 7-6.

Game Two: Springfield 8, Coast Guard 0 (5 Innings)

Springfield starter Lily McCauliffe (Greenwich, Conn.) held Coast Guard hitless for three innings making it 11 straight frames without a hit against McCauliffe dating back to the no-hitter against Amherst on Wednesday. The junior improved to 5-0 as she allowed just two hits, two walks and struck out six in the shutout victory.

Springfield wasted little time scoring in game two as an RBI single by Pecchia gave the Pride an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first before a bases loaded RBI ground out by Manzone made it 2-0. 

The Pride put the game out of reach in the third with five addition runs. With the bases loaded, Manzone hit the ball up the middle to plate Pecchia before a walk from Ponticello with the bags still full plated Gendron. Katsetos followed it up with a two run single through the left side before a fielder's choice RBI by DeRosa made it 7-0.

A single to left by Erin Behel broke up the McCauliffe's no-hit bid in the fourth, but she was stranded on second following a strikeout and a lineout. 

Back-to-back singles by Ponticello and Katsetos paired with a sac bunt put two runners in scoring position and allowed DeRosa to drive in Springfield's eighth run in the fifth inning. McCauliffe returned to the circle and struck out the side to complete the sweep.

Springfield will host Western New England University in a non-conference twin bill on Wednesday at 3:00 pm.

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