Ross & O'Hara Lead Nighthawk Offense in Comeback Win over Thomas College

The Newbury College softball team split a double-header with Thomas College, Tuesday afternoon in Florida. After being shut out in the first game, 9-0, the Nighthawks responded by coming from behind in the second game to earn the 5-3 win.

Senior Katelyn Mark led off the contest against Thomas College with a bunt base hit down the third base line. The Newbury senior quickly grabbed the attention of Thomas starter, Kelsey Crowe, on the base paths as Mark swiped second on the first pitch to junior Jessica Jordan following a strike out to sophomore Brittany Stracher. She would advance to third on a ground ball back to the pitcher by Jordan but the Nighthawks could not get her in as freshman Sarah Young watch an inside pitch cross the plate for strike three and the final out of the inning.

Thomas jumped on the board early with four runs in the bottom of the first. They took advantage of a four-pitch walk to centerfielder Mallorie Blakney as Ally Kennedy and Ali Kriegel followed up with back-to-back base hits to take the early 1-0 lead. Thomas pitcher Kelsey Crowe helped her own cause with the bases loaded, lining a double into left center to plate two of the three runners. Kristina Drew was gunned down at the plate trying to score from first for the second out of the inning.

Since Mark’s infield hit to start the game, Crowe retired the last 10 of 11 Nighthawk batters, six of them by way of the strike out, before Young broke it up with a one-out single in the fourth. The only player to reach against her in the time span was second baseman Teressa Farioli who worked a one-out walk in the top of the second.

Thomas added to their 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth as new pitcher Sara Pavento cleared the bases with an RBI double to right center which plated two. They would go on to score an additional run in the frame to increase the score to 9-0.

The Nighthawks answered the loss in game one by jumping on the board early in the second game. Katelyn Mark reached first on a throw which sailed high over her intended target, first baseman, Sarah Estes. Newbury made Thomas atone for their mistake as freshman first baseman Catherine O’Connell hit a double down the third base line to score Mark from third.

Thomas would get that run right back in the top of the second. Kristin Massessa lined a one-out single then three batters later Samantha Robison drove her in with a two-out single to left to knot up the score at one.

In the top of the third, freshman Katie O’Hara relieved freshman Rebecca Roach on the mound. After walking the first to batters to lead off the inning, O’Hara hit clean up hitter Anika Powers to load the bases with zero outs. Before the inning began, Jessica Jordan moved from centerfield to right field and made the key play of the inning to keep the game tied at one. Jordan retired Massessa for the first out then caught Kriegel, who was attempting to score from third on the sacrifice fly, for the second out of the inning.

However, O’Hara would not escape the inning unscathed. A walk to catcher Sam Moore would re-load the bases then a follow up walk to Sarah Estes gave Thomas their first lead of the game. But O’Hara minimized the damage getting Sammie Robison to line out to third to end the threat.

Thomas added to their one-run lead in the fourth after Blackney led off the inning with her third infield hit of the game. She moved herself into scoring position with a steal of second before Ally Kriegel singled her home, lining a base hit back where it came from and into center field to push the lead to 3-1.

Sara Pavento ran into trouble as the Nighthawks loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth. But she managed to squeak her way out of the jam. However she was not so fortunate in the fifth.

After a one-two-three top of the fifth the Nighthawks batted around in the bottom of the frame to take the 5-3 advantage. Once again Mark reached on an error and came around to score two batters later on a base hit by O’Hara. Sophomore Sarah Thornton followed up by driving in Ariel Ross from third to tie up the contest at three a piece. Jordan reached on a fielder’s choice and swiped second thus allowing Roach to step to the plate. Roach kept the game alive by being safe on the second Thomas error of the inning thus allowing Jordan and freshman Catherine O’Connell to come around to score the two final runs of the game.

The split improves the Nighthawks to 2-2 on the season and will face Salve Regina on Thursday afternoon.