Pride Split in Buzzards Bay

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – Regis College softball stepped out of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play today, traveling to Buzzards Bay to take on the Buccaneers of Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The Pride came away with a split, taking game one with an 11-4 victory before falling 5-2 in game two. The results bring their overall record to 11-19 on the season.

In game one, Madigan Lawler (Branford, Conn.) led the offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, driving in two runs. Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) also had a strong showing in game one, going 3-for-5 and scoring twice, while Gabriella Blanchard (North Haven, Conn.) added to the scoring effort with a 2-for-4 outing, bringing home two runs and crossing the plate twice herself. In the circle, Mel Rees (Middleborough, Mass.) pitched a complete-game, striking out four batters, and allowing only three earned runs to secure the 11-4 victory.

Five different members of the Pride recorded a hit in game two, with Chloe Beland (Southborough, Mass.) and Lynsey Kay (Bellingham, Mass.) each driving in a run to account for the team's two RBIs. In the circle, Mya Gaspie (Hooksett, N.H.) pitched four innings, striking out three in the effort.

Game One

• The Pride's bats wasted no time getting started, as the first four batters recorded hits, with Kay's single bringing home Burke for the game's opening run. Regis would go on to add four more runs in the frame, highlighted by Lawler's two-run double down the right field line, giving the Pride an early 5-0 lead.
• The Buccaneers answered back in the bottom of the second and third innings, using six hits and capitalizing on a Regis miscue to plate four runs and narrow the deficit to 5-4.
• The Pride's offense erupted once again in the fourth. Beland laid down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to score Burke and ignite another scoring surge. Grace Motto (Wareham, Mass.) capped the rally with a two-RBI single, sending Regis into the fifth inning with a commanding 11-4 advantage.
• In the circle, Rees and the Pride defense held strong, allowing just two more hits the rest of the way to secure the 11-4 win in the opening game.

Game Two

• The Buccaneers struck first in game two, using a pair of singles to bring in two early runs and take the lead.
• In the following inning, the Pride showed signs of life as Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) singled to left and advanced to second but was ultimately left stranded as the inning came to a close with Regis still searching for its first run.
• Maritime extended its lead in the bottom of the second, plating three more runs—capped off by a solo home run over the left-center fence—to push their advantage to 5-0.
• Motto sparked a rally in the top of the sixth with a triple to left-center, then came around to score on a double by Chloe Beland. Just one batter later, Bianca Burke crossed the plate as well, cutting the deficit to 5-2 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
• However, the Buccaneers retired the Pride in order in the top of the seventh to secure the 5-2 victory in game two.

Inside the Numbers:

• Chloe Beland and Lynsey Kay each turned in two-hit performances in the opening game.
• Two of Madigan Lawler's three hits in game one were doubles.
• In game two, Grace Motto recorded her first triple of the season, bringing her career total to six.

Up Next:

The Pride hit the road again tomorrow as they travel to Chicopee, Massachusetts for a doubleheader against Elms College. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.