Nine-Hit Attack Not Enough for Nighthawks

After dropping game one of a non-conference double-header vs. St. Joseph's College (CT), the Nighthawk softball team rallied to boast a nine hit attack in game two.  Newbury was led by junior captain Katelyn Mark (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) who was 3-4 in the nightcap, but fell just short of victory in the game's final innnings.

Following a scoreless first inning, the Jays jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second.  The bottom half of the inning saw an aggressive Newbury offense trim the deficit to one run as freshman Teressa Farioli (East Longmeadow, MA/East Longmeadow) singled, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaila Nicolia (Monroe, CT/Masuk), and scored on two consecutive passed balls.

The two teams traded runs in the third as St. Joseph's Michelle Lynch scored on a sacrifice fly by Jackie Peck and Newbury's Mark began a two-out rally with one of her three base hits on the game.  Mark advanced to second on a single by freshman pitcher Olga Cepeda (Boston, MA/Madison Park) and scored on a line shot by Jessica Jordan (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham).

With the score favoring the Jays 3-2, neither team would score in the fourth inning; but St. Joseph's extended their lead with two additional runs in the fifth.  The Nighthawks again responded, however, as Mark scored on an RBI double by Cepeda in the latter half of the frame.

Newbury's efforts would not be enough as they were unable to string their hits together in the final two innings.  St. Joseph's plated three insurance runs and improved their record to 3-3.  The Nighthawks look to break into the win column when they host NECC opponent Mitchell College for a double-header on Saturday, March 28th at noon.