Links: Game One Box |
Game Two Box |
Highlights
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass.  – The Merrimack College softball team split its doubleheader with LIU Post on Friday, defeating the Pioneers, 2-0, in game one, before falling in extra innings, 11-5, in game two. The win marked the first time since 2013 that the Navy and Gold defeated LIU Post.
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 2, LIU Post 0 | Final
Score: Game 2: Â LIU Post 11,
Merrimack 5 | Final/8 Innings
Records: Merrimack (16-5) | LIU Post (11-9)
Location: Martone-Mejail Field | North Andover, Mass.
Rapid Recap (Game One)
- Both pitchers were strong in the first three innings, as each pitched three shutout innings.
- It was a two-run fourth that was all the offense in the game. A one-out triple by junior Kristina Terrazzano gave the Warriors the only offense they needed to take a 2-0 lead. After a pair of back-to-back one out singles by senior Megan Cook and junior Nicole Nanof, it was the bat of Terrazzano that brought both runners home. She ripped a 0-1 pitch deep to right center field, which scored both runners easily.
- Cook was strong in the circle for the rest of the game. After a triple in the fifth, the senior got a pop out, before striking out the final batter of the inning to strand runners on first and third. She allowed one hit the rest of the game.
Rapid Recap (Game Two)
- The Pioneers took a quick 1-0 lead in the first on an infield single by Leah Mele. However, the visitors stranded two runners. Merrimack answered right back in the home half, striking for two runs. Sophomore Tiffany Mangaimeli led off with a single, before moving to third on an error and a wild pitch. She scored on a double by junior Hannah Johnson, who came around to score on a double by senior Alyssa Williamson.
- LIU Post, however, responded with a four-run second, that chased senior Courtney Zambello from the game.
- The score remained the same, until the Warriors rallied from three down in the bottom of the seventh. A leadoff double by freshman Abigail Amato started the rally. Classmate Elizabeth McCoy drove in Amato. After Williamson singled with two outs, it was Cook who sent a triple just shy of the right field wall, scoring her fellow classmate. She came around to score on a single by Terrazzano to knot the game at five heading into extra innings.
- However, it was all LIU Post in extra innings. The visitors scored four runs before an out was recorded, and tacked on two runs with two outs. Pioneers' starter Katie Humhej made quick work of Merrimack in the bottom of the eighth to pick up her fifth win of the season.
Notes and Notables
- Game 1: WP – Cook (9-1) | LP – Hannah Olshevski (6-3)
- Cook's Line: (7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 3 K)
- It was Cook's third straight complete game shutout. She has eight complete games on the year and six shutouts.
- It was the second time this year that Terrazzano had two RBI.
- Game 2: WP – Katie Humhej (5-6)| LP – Bridget Soraghan (0-1)
- Zambello's line: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB
Soraghan's line: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB
- Junior Emily Kurkul has a seven-game hitting streak, while Amato has a five game hit streak. Terrazzano has hit safely in four consecutive games.
- Williamson collected her 11th multi-hit game of the season.
Up Next:
The Warriors have a quick turnaround and return to Northeast-10 Conference play with a doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, March 31 at Saint Anselm. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. from Manchester, New Hampshire.
