Links: Game One Box |
Game Two Box
MANCHESTER, N.H.  – The Merrimack College softball team trailed 3-0 in the first game, before junior
Nicole Nanof capped off a five-run fourth with a three-run blast, leading the Warriors to a 7-4 win over Saint Anselm in Northeast-10 Conference play on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks took the second game, 7-1, to earn a split on the day.
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 7, Saint Anselm 4 | Final
Score: Game 2: Â Saint Anselm 7,
Merrimack 1 | Final
Records: Merrimack (17-6, 4-3 NE10) | Saint Anselm (19-8-1, 6-2-1 NE10)
Location: South Athletics Field | Manchester, N.H.
Rapid Recap (Game One)
- The Hawks took a 1-0 lead in the first. Erin Thompson doubled to left center, before Megan Murrell pushed her across the plate with a RBI single. The Hawks added two more runs in the third, thanks to a one-out error. After Saint Anselm put runners on second and third, Michaela Kane scored both runners after reaching on an error to the short stop.
- Saint Anselm starter Morgan Perry was perfect through the first three innings. That changed in the fourth.
- The Warriors took the lead in the fourth thanks to an error and five hits, including a home run. Sophomore Tiffany Mangiameli began the inning reaching on an error, before scoring on a RBI double by freshman Abigail Amato. Senior Alyssa Williamson put runners on the corners, before classmate Megan Cook singled to score Amato. Nanof took a 1-1 pitch deep to right center for a three-run shot to give Merrimack a 5-3 lead.
- Merrimack added another runs in the fifth and seventh to take a 7-3 lead. The Hawks scored one in the seventh, but Cook got the final batter to line out to center to end the game.
Rapid Recap (Game Two)
- After both teams went scoreless in the first inning, the Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, before scoring two more runs in the third.
- After a leadoff walk in the second, Shannon McLaughlin doubled to right field to score the first run of the game, before coming around to score on a double by Kane. Saint Anselm's two runs in the second came on a two-run double by Maddison Leite.
- The Hawks scored three more in the third, including one run on a solo shot by Megan Murrell.
- Merrimack got a solo home run by junior Emily Kurkul in the fifth. The Warriors put runners on first and second in the seventh, but the Hawks induced a 6-4-3 double play and got the final batter to fly out to end the game.
Notes and Notables
- Game 1: WP – Cook (10-1) | LP – Morgan Perry (10-3)
- Cook's Line: (7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K)
- Junior Kristina Terrazzano's hitting streak extended to five in the first game.
- Nanof led the offense, knocking in three runs, while Cook went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.
- Nanof now leads the team with 15 RBI (new career-high). She is one home run shy of her career-high of three she set last season.
- Cook is a win away from tying her career-high for wins in a season.
- Game 2: WP – Courtney Fisher (8-4)| LP – Courtney Zambello (4-3)
- Zambello's line: 3.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
- Amato now has a seven-game hitting streak, after collecting hits in both games.
- Kurkul now leads the team with three home runs, which is the most in a single-season in her career.
- The Warriors have won four of the last six games in Manchester.
Up Next:
The Warriors and Hawks wrap up the series on Monday in Manchester, New Hampshire. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
