Pitching Not Enough for Nighthawks

Despite strong pitching efforts by both Katie O’Hara (Abingdon, MD/John Carroll) and Rebecca Roach (Charlton, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) the Newbury College softball program lost both games of a non-conference doubleheader against St. Joseph’s College (CT) Thursday afternoon by scores of 3-2 and 2-1.  O’Hara fanned nine batters in game one while only allowing four hits, while Roach struck out eight of her own while only allowing one walk and zero earned runs. 

The Nighthawks would score first on the day as they pushed across two runs in the bottom of the third inning of game one.  With two outs, freshman Brittany Stracher (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional) walked and then scored on an RBI double by O’Hara.  Sophomore Ariel Ross (Gales Ferry, CT/Ledyard) followed up with a single to center field to score O’Hara.  The score would remain this way until the top of the seventh inning when Blue Jays’ shortstop Stephanie Valerio (Wolcott, CT/St. Paul) tripled to right field plating teammates April Campanella (Berlin, CT/Berlin) and Susie Waters (Wrentham, MA/King Phillip).  Second baseman Melanie Bush (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) drove in Valerio with a sacrifice fly to end the inning with St. Joseph’s up 3-2.  Newbury would threaten with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as Teressa Farioli (East Longmeadow/East Longmeadow) singled, but they were unable to capitalize.

Game two was a true pitcher’s duel that went scoreless through the eighth inning.  Blue Jays’ hurler Emily Hummel (Hebron, CT/RHAM) finished the game with 13 strikeouts, while Roach fanned eight.  The deciding play of the game came in the top of the eighth inning as Williams singled and two Nighthawk errors scored both her and Campanella who began the inning at second base due to the international tie breaker.  A Theresa Hylinski (Stratford, CT/Stratford) single in the bottom of the eighth would pull the game to within one but it would not be enough to take the lead and the win.

Newbury falls to 4-8 overall while the Blue Jays improve to 12-7.  The Nighthawks host Maine Maritime Academy for a double-header tomorrow beginning at noon.