Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
BEVERLY, Mass. —A change in venue didn't deter the upset-minded Gordon Softball team from shocking the top team in the Commonwealth Coast Conference, beating Endicott 2-0 in game one of a doubleheader. The Scots nearly rallied in game two, but a late Gulls' home run provided a split for the cross-town rivals, 4-3. Endicott improves to 18-7-1 (10-2 CCC) while Gordon earned their first victory over Endicott since 2001 improving to 8-18 (5-11 CCC).
 
Game one was a pitching duel between seniors Nell O'Connor (Harwich, Mass.) and Skylar Bareford (Stonington, Conn.), with both tossing complete games. O'Connor hurled six innings and earned five strikeouts on 24 batters faced. Bareford was outstanding in the circle for the Scots as the captain hurled seven innings of shutout ball, holding the top offense in the CCC to only three hits.
 
The Fighting Scots got on the board early in the bottom of the first as Kara Pepper (Wyckoff, N.J.) sacrificed on a bunt to advance junior Rachel Ryder (Telford, Pa.) home. To wrap up the inning senior Kendall Bukuras (North Falmouth, Mass.) pushed forward to home plate on a throw to make it a 2-0 game.
 
O'Connor (8-2) fought back to keep the score at a minimum as the senior pitched four 1-2-3 innings after the two runs. The Scots played near flawless defense, stranding four runners on base to complete the shutout.
 
Game Two
 
In game two, Endicott brought their bats which had abandoned them in the first slate. Sophomore pitcher Courtney Blake (East Islip, N.Y.) hurled seven innings for the Gulls, while striking out only two batters. Bareford, finished off the day with her second complete-game effort and was a sharp for the majority.
 
Endicott got on the board early as sophomore Emily Hoffman (Malden, Mass.) sacrificed on a bunt to push senior Alex Moise (North Reading, Mass.) to home plate to take the 1-0 lead. The Gulls scoring continued in the bottom of the second as Moise tripled to right field with freshman Julia McNeill (Hauppauge, N.Y.) on base to take the 2-0 lead.
 
The second inning scoring would not stop there as sophomore Jaime Corda (Higganum, Conn.) stepped up to the plate and singled up the middle to advance Moise home to finish the inning on top 3-0.
 
In the bottom of the fourth the Fighting Scots started to creep up on the scoreboard as they tallied two runs. The first score came from a double to left field from freshman Stephanie Zaloom (Albany, N.Y.) to bring sophomore Marissa Meenan (Wayne, Pa.) around the bases. After being escorted to third, Zaloom was able to scamper home on a fielder's choice later in the inning.
 
In the bottom of the fifth the Gulls defense and Blake made some impressive plays recording three outs on just two pitches as Bukuras popped up on a bunt attempt to Hoffman behind the plate who then quickly threw to first to tag the runner for the double play. On the next pitch Bareford grounded out to first to wrap up the inning.
 
In the top of the seventh freshman Rachel Couto (Chelmsford, Mass.) homered to centerfield to tab an insurance run which marked her third homerun on the season. The run ended up being huge for the Gulls as the Scots threatened to send the game into extras in their final at bats.
 
Bieren snuck one through the infield for a single with one out in the bottom half of the seventh. Ryder then knocked a double to left field, but Bieren was only able to get to third base. It didn't matter much as Bieren was able to score on a groundout on the next play, making it a 4-3 game. With Ryder at third, Bareford came up to the plate, but Blake was able to field a comebacker and flip it to first to end the Scots' resurgence.
 
The Scots return to their real home field tomorrow afternoon when Nichols rolls into town for a doubleheader beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Portions taken from release courtesy of Endicott Sports Info