PRIDE KNOCK OFF HAWKS, 17-8 IN NECC FIRST ROUND

LEICESTER, Mass. - The Regis College softball team defeated Becker College, 17-8 in a New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) First Round game on Wednesday afternoon at Russell Field. The win lifts the Pride record to 10-18, while the Hawks season comes to end with a record of 16-19.

Regis jumped out to a 3-0 lead by the top of the third inning. Rachel DesRochers (Westford, Mass.) scored in the first inning after Alyssa McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.) doubled to left field before Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.) and Kirbie Garvey (Littleton, Mass.) each scored in the top of the third following a Garvey single to right field and a McKinnon single to center field. 

The Hawks answered back with five runs in the bottom of the third to take over the lead. Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.), Jessica Brochu (Hardwick, Vt.), Megan Bolduc (Dover, N.H.), Katherine DiMascio (Braintree, Mass.), and Ashley Ciepiela (Adams, Mass.) scored a run apiece to account for Becker's offense. Brochu would later hit a two run homer to center field in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend Becker's advantage to 7-3. 

The Pride offense awoke in the top of the fifth inning, as the Crimson & Gold would score ten runs with two outs. Freshman Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) hit a grand slam to right center, sending herself, Rachel Tortora (Malden, Mass.), Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.), and Garvey to home plate to tie the game at seven apiece.

Casello and Michaela NeJaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) added scores following a DesRochers single to left field, while DesRochers scored her second run of the day shortly after when McKinnon double to right center field. Cuozzo then got in on the action and hit a three run homer to left field to push the score to 13-7.

Wheelahan was able to add an eigth run for Becker in the bottom of the sixth following a wild pitch. In the top of the seventh, Regis answered back with four more runs courtesy of Angelica Arredondo (Merrimac, Mass.), Garvey, Cuozzo, and Sam Bliss (Framingham, Mass.) before the game was called off due to rain.

McKinnon paced the Regis offensive attack by going four-for-five with three RBI and a run scored. Garvey went one-for-two with four runs scored.

Wheelahan led the Hawks going three-for-three, moving her within one hit of her 100^th. Brochu chipped in with a two hit performance, while driving in and scoring a pair of runs.

Becker pitcher Kelsey Norberg (Uxbridge, Mass.) suffered the loss, falling to 16-12 on the season. Norberg struck out a game high 12 batters. Cuozzo improved her record to 8-8 after allowing four earned runs on seven hits. Cuozzo also went two-for-four at the plate with three RBI and three runs scored. 

The Pride return to action on Friday, May 2 when they play the winner of Southern Vermont College and Mitchell College at 12:00 p.m. in the second round of the NECC softball tournament. The remainder of the tournament will be played at Regis College.

Release courtesy of Becker Sports Information