Nighthawks Drop Two on Opening Day

The Newbury College softball program lost both games of a non-conference doubleheader against Anna Maria College Thursday afternoon by scores of 11-2 and 12-3.  The AMCATS were led by junior Jill Hurley (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) who finished the day a combined 7-for-8 in both games.

Anna Maria jumped out early in game one putting two runs on the board in the first inning off back-to-back singles by Mary Moroski (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) and Hurley.  They scored an additional three runs in the top of the second as the AMCATS strung together four hits before freshman pitcher Rebecca Roach (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) settled down striking out the final two batters of the inning. 

Newbury took advantage of the momentum and put their first run on the board in the bottom of the second inning.  Sophomore Ariel Ross (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) walked, advanced to second a single by senior Jessica Jordan (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham), and scored on an error by the first baseman.  It would not be enough, however, as the AMCAT bats exploded in the top of the fifth inning as they scored five runs on an additional four hits and two Nighthawk errors.  Despite the loss, Newbury freshman Brittany Stracher (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) hit her first collegiate homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Game two began as a much different story as Newbury was able to silence Anna Maria and take the lead in the first inning.  Senior Katelyn Mark (Quincy, MA/North Quincy) reached on an error by the pitcher, also taking second base on the play.  Mark would go on to steal third and score on a wild pitch by Anna Maria’s Nicole Hackenson (Mendon, MA/Nipmuc Regional). 

The second and third innings saw Anna Maria bring the score to 3-1 led by an RBI double off the bat of Samantha Putis (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional).  They would break the game open in the fourth, however, as Newbury committed three errors and surrendered five hits totaling six AMCAT runs. 

Five Nighthawks recorded hits in game two as Mark, Stracher, Roach, Ross, and Theresa Hylinski (Stratford, CT/Stratford) all reached base safely. 

The loss drops Newbury to 2-6 while Anna Maria improves to 4-12.  The Nighthawks travel to Regis College on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at noon.