WENHAM, Mass.—Gordon Softball kept its season alive with a sweep of Nichols in the final regular season doubleheader for the Scots this season. Needing to take both games for any shot at a playoff seed, Gordon took a pair of one-run games 3-2 and 8-7.
The Fighting Scots improve to 12-23-1 and 5-13 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. The Bison fall to 14-16 and 6-8 respectively.
Game One: Nichols 2 – 3 Gordon
Gordon scored all three of its runs in the first inning on a barrage of singles with two outs.
Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.) lead off the game with a single to left, but Nichols was able to get pop outs by the next two Scots. However, the hosts responded with five consecutive base hits to plate three.
The Fighting Scots held the Bison off the scoreboard until the top of the third. Christina Barrows (Carver, Mass.) began the frame with a single and eventually made it to third on another base hit by Christina Drake (Lebanon, N.H.) Barrows scored on a groundout before Drake crossed the home on a third single in the inning, by Zoe Chevrette (Wilbraham, Mass.).
Gordon starter
Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) held the Bison to 1-2-3 innings in three of the last four to preserve the victory. Kline struck out four while only allowing five hits.
Haley Fountain (Warren, Mass.) took the loss, giving up three runs on 10 hits.
Game Two: Nichols 7 – 8 Gordon
The Bison took their first lead of the day in the top of the first, capitalizing on an error in the outfield after a single by Chevrette.
Gordon answered with three runs in the bottom of the first for the second time on the day, which included a two-RBI triple by
Marissa Meenan (Wayne, Pa.).
The Scots extended their lead in the second with RBI knocks from
Kaelie Mercado (Granada Hills, Calif.) and
Emily Burkhart (Manheim, Pa.) to make it a 5-1 game.
Jade Palladino (Lynnfield, Mass.) added a run in the third for the Bison before CCC stat leader Kendall Meehan (Danvers, Mass.) came up with a big two-RBI double in the fourth to make it a 5-4 game.
Gordon's Meenan registered her third RBI of the game in the second half of the fourth inning with a single to shallow left to plate Mercado easily.
However, Nichols found timely hits in the top of the sixth to go up 7-6. Barrows laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to move a runner to second, but the throw to first sailed into right field to score a run. Chevrette continued her strong day with a single up the middle to plate two runs, giving the Bison a late one-run advantage.
Not to be outdone, Gordon tied things up quickly in the bottom half with an RBI single from Kline. With two outs,
Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) had the biggest hit of her career with a double to the gap in right to score
Meredith Kercher (Ipswich, Mass.) from second base for the go-ahead run.
Kline received some help in the outfield from Meenan, who robbed a double from Palladino with a nice diving play to record the first out of the seventh. The Gordon pitcher got two groundouts to end it and keep Gordon's playoff hopes in tact.
Gordon put 15 hits on the board to help their two pitchers, as Kline picked up her second victory of the day to improve to 10-14. Meaghan Sears (Tewksbury, Mass.) suffered the loss in six innings of work.
Game Watching:
Gordon will need some help from Roger Williams or Nichols to secure a spot in next week's tournament. The Bison have four games remaining against Salve Regina and Endicott. Two Curry losses to Roger Williams on Sunday would secure a playoff appearance for Gordon.
