Softball Stumbles in LIU Doubleheader

Links: Box Score (Game 1) | Box Score (Game 2)
 
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. --  The Merrimack College softball team dropped both contests in the second day of action against the Long Island University Sharks on Saturday.
 
The Basics
Score: Game 1: Merrimack 0, LIU 8 | Final (5 innings)
Score: Game 2: Merrimack 6, LIU 15 | Final (5 innings)
Records: Merrimack (6-18, 4-12 NEC) | LIU (13-3, 13-3 NEC)
Location: LIU Softball Complex | Brookville, NY

Rapid Recap (Game One)

• LIU threw four runs on the board in the first, with a single and stolen base and a single put runners on the corners. Two would come in to score on a double, before a walk loaded the bases for the Sharks. A sacrifice fly and passed ball brought in two more for the hosts.
• Merrimack jumped on the ball in the second, with Madison Cerpa hitting a leadoff single to left. Lucy Colarusso doubled to left, putting both runners in scoring position. Madie Fornwalt sent the ball into the infield, with Cerpa out at home on a throw by the pitcher, keeping the Warriors off the board.
• The Sharks added one run on three hits in the second to make it a 5-0 game, before a walk and three singles added another run in the third. LIU closed out the day with two runs on two hits in the fourth.  

 
Rapid Recap (Game Two)

• Offense continued to pressure for the Sharks to open the second game, churning six runs on seven hits in the first. LIU continued the offense in the second, putting three on in the second inning.
• The Warriors got on the board in the third. Jenna Bradish singled to first and moved to second on a wild pitch before getting caught stealing at third. Amber Gibbons worked an eight pitch at-bat into a walk, moving over on a wild pitch. Tiffany Mangiameli matched Gibbons' plate discipline with a ten pitch at-bat, churning a single through the right side to put runners on the corners. Nicole Koshes followed up the play with a walk, moving Mangiameli to second to load the bases. Abigail Amato reached on a fielder's choice, bringing in Gibbons to score.
• The Sharks rolled off three runs on five hits in the bottom of the third to take a 12-1 lead.
• Merrimack fought back in the fourth. Courtney Lanpher reached on an error on an infield hit to get aboard, with Madison Cerpa following her up with an eight pitch walk to put two on. Gabby Comeau singled to the pitcher to load the bases before Jenna Bradish worked a four pitch walk for an RBI. Gibbons stepped in with no outs and worked a walk for another run, before Mangiameli's hit-by-pitch added another run for the Warriors. Amato put a ball in play, allowing Bradish to score on a throwing error by the pitcher, rallying the Warriors for five runs.
• In the bottom of the fourth the Sharks put the game out of reach, scoring three runs on two hits to finish the game with 15 runs.  

 
Notes and Numbers

• Game 1: WP – Tallie Woodson (6-1) | LP – Courtney Lanpher (1-4)
• Game 2: WP – Haley Irvis (2-0) | LP – Madie Fornwalt (2-5)

 
Up Next:
Merrimack returns home for a set of midweek doubleheaders against Bryant on Tuesday, April 13 and Wednesday, April 14 with game times for both days set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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