MILTON, Mass. – Curry College fell to visiting Newbury College in non-conference softball action Tuesday afternoon in Milton. The Colonels fall to 11-15 while the Nighthawks improve to 14-11 overall.
The scoring was opened in the bottom of the first inning when freshman April Adams (Burlington, Mass.) reached on a bunt single to start things up for Curry. She advanced to third when classmate Jessica Saluti (Braintree, Mass.) doubled to right field. Adams would be brought in on a ground out off the bat of fellow freshman Caitlin Blanchard (Warwick, R.I.) to the shortstop.
It wasn't until the third when another run came across the plate. Freshman Alice Felzmann (Bellingham, Mass.) reached on a bunt single to the left side of the infield. After a ground out from Saluti, Blanchard drove in Felzmann with a single to right field putting the Colonels ahead by a score of 2-0 after three full innings.
Newbury responded in the following half inning with sophomore Naomi Ricciotti (Phoenix, Ariz.) getting things started with a double. Classmate Emily Humphries (Westborough, Mass.) followed with a double of her own bringing Ricciotti around to score.
In the bottom half of the inning, freshman Jordan Lizotte (Rehoboth, Mass.) got on with a single to start the inning. Classmate Carolyn Lynch (Ipswich, Mass.) would follow with a single advancing Lizotte to third and Morgan Bogardus (Cortlandt Manor N.Y.) to second loading the bases for Adams. She grounded out to the shortstop, but not before Lizotte came across to score. Felzmann followed Adams with a bunt to the left side of the infield driving in Bogardus to put Curry ahead 4-1 after four.
However, in the top of the fifth, the Nighthawks responded with a big inning of their own. Junior Tory Hoemke (Cape Coral, Fla.) got it all started with a single and classmate Alyssa Donovan reached on a fielder's choice to have runners on first and second. Fellow junior Sheri Liggiero (Tewksbury, Mass.) also reached, getting an infield single, loading the bases. Sophomore Olivia Kenyon (Canton, Mass.) helped her own cause driving in two runs on a single to center field. Liggiero would come across after Ricciotti singled to center herself. After a double-steal, Kenyon and Ricciotti were on third and second respectively and sophomore Lindsey Clark (Venice, Fla.) doubled in Kenyon and Ricciotti advanced to third. Ricciotti would later come across on a fielder's choice with sophomore Liz Kia (Kea'au, Hawaii) reaching at first. Thus ending the threat, but the damage was done, and Newbury took the lead 6-5 after four and a half.
The Colonels would respond in the bottom half of the inning, with freshman Kendal Frye (New Ashford, Mass.) singling to center field, and advancing to second during Lizotte's at bat. Classmate Morgan Haaland (Fairhaven, Mass.) followed Lizotte and delivered a double, platting Frye tying the game up at 6.
Clark started things for the Nighthawks in the top of the last inning with a single to center. After a Humphries single and a Kia sacrifice bunt, Clark and Humphries were in scoring position. Senior Julia Flamenco (Copiague, N.Y.) sacrifice flied out to left field, scoring Clark and putting Newbury ahead by one. Curry would get out of the inning only allowing one run.
Freshman Kevi Oatway (East Hartford, Conn.) drew a walk to start the home half of the seventh off and sophomore Kelly Duggan (Norwood, Mass.) pinch ran for her. Lizotte singled to the shortstop putting two on for the Colonels. Haaland grounded back to the pitcher Kenyon, and she threw on to third to get the force out for the second out of the inning. Bogardus ended up flying out to the centerfielder thus ending the game.
Kenyon went the distance for the Nighthawks allowing five earned runs on thirteen hits and two walks while striking out five. Freshman Rebecca Black (East Greenwhich, R.I.) got handed the loss after her four innings of work giving up six runs (five earned) on ten hits while also recording four strikeouts. Freshman Mikayla Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.) got the ball for the other three innings giving up only one earned on three hits and getting a punch out.
Newbury is set to host Bay Path University for a conference doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday. The Colonels finish their regular season with a non-conference doubleheader at home against Suffolk University tomorrow afternoon starting at 3:30 p.m.