WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Softball suffered a loss and a tie in its home opener on Wednesday afternoon. Newbury put seven runs on the board for a 7-1 victory in game one, while Gordon came up with a late rally to tie the game in a darkness-shortened second contest.
Game One: Newbury 7 – 1 Gordon Newbury's Sherri Liggiero (Tewksbury, Mass.) was a sparkplug for the Nighthawks from the very start, beating out a throw in a squib hit just in front of the catcher. Gordon was able to get the next two batters out, but a single by Noelle Sass (Randolph, Mass.) scored the centerfielder easily from third base.
Gordon pitcher
Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) was able to get out of the jam two batters later, leaving the bases loaded for the Nighthawks.
Newbury struck again in the second inning after holding Gordon to a quiet offensive stanza. Elizabeth Fox (Orono, Maine) singled to lead off the inning and her speed allowed all runners to be safe on a fielder's choice to short. Liggiero stayed hot with a double to the left-center gap to score two more runs. The centerfielder scored one play later on a deep fly out by Naomi Ricciotti (Phoenix, Ariz.) to make it a 4-0 game.
The Scots tagged back in the bottom of the second as Kline lead off the inning with a jack to left field, but Gordon would be unable to score the rest of the way.
A triple by Liz Kia (Kea'au, Hawaii) tacked on another run in the third for the Nighthawks to make it 5-1. Newbury added two more in the fourth to essentially put the game out of reach.
Alina Milauskas (Elkridge, Md.) went the distance for her fourth win of the season, striking out five batters and only walking two. Kline took the loss for Gordon, giving up six earned runs.
Game Two: Newbury 2 – 2 Gordon The Fighting Scots took their first lead of the day in the bottom of the first inning when they capitalized on a pair of errors committed by the Nighthawks.
Kaelie Mercado (Granada Hills, Calif.) and Kline both earned walks in the frame to put pressure on the young Nighthawks pitcher, Kayla Finacchiaro (Natick, Mass.).
Finacchiaro was able to settle into the pace of the game as time wore on and the rookie did not allow a hit through four innings of play. Gordon reached base seven times during that span, but all were due to walks or errors and the Scots were only able to turn it into one run through four.
Newbury took back the lead in the top of the third inning, as Liggiero continued to give Gordon pitching a hard time. The senior led off the inning with walk, stole second base and eventually scored on a sacrifice bunt by Alyssa Donovan (West Haven, Conn.). Ricciotti tallied the go-ahead run late in the inning after reaching on a Scot error.
With daylight dwindling, Gordon got one last chance to tie or win in the bottom of the fifth.
Alyssa Unumb (Bedford, Mass.) was hit in the back on the first pitch of the inning and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by
Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.). Unumb moved up another base on a wild pitch, immediately pressuring for the tying score.
Finacchiaro came within an out of getting out of the inning with a strikeout of Mercado, but
Marissa Meenan (Wayne, Pa.) tied the contest with a double to the wall in centerfield on a 3-1 pitch. Kline walked to keep the inning alive and Gordon looked like they would have a chance at a walk off when a broken pickoff play led to the final out at second base.
For the Nighthawks- Liggiero went a combined 5-for-6 from the plate with two walks, four runs scored and two RBI. The senior also had three stolen bases.
- Sass and Ricciotti both tied for the team lead in RBI with two apiece.
- Finacchiaro stuckout four in her college debut
For the Scots- Kline paced the Scots with two hits, including her second homer of the year.
- Mercado earned a game-high three walks.
On Deck Gordon has a full week off before beginning Commonwealth Coast Conference play when they host Endicott at 3:30 next Wednesday. Newbury hosts Regis College for a doubleheader in their home opening series on Friday.
