FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Curry College softball team battled host Fitchburg State to a double-header split Thursday afternoon in Fitchburg. The Falcons collected a 5-4 victory in game one before the Colonels bounced back 3-1 in the nightcap.
In game one, Fitchburg State produced a nine-hit attack, breaking a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the seventh frame for its first victory of the year. The Falcons were led by sophomore Kelly Cummings (Natick, Mass./Natick) who finished a perfect 1-for-1 with a home run, one run scored and three RBI. Classmate Ashley McKinnon (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) was also solid, going 2-for-4, with a pair of doubles and one RBI, while senior Leigh Trzcinski (Worcester, Mass./South) added a base-knock and two runs scored.
Junior Janelle Mayo (Worcester, Mass./Holy Name) led the Colonels offensive approach, hitting 3-for-4 with a homer, one run scored and three RBI, while classmate Samantha Velezis (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross) added a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored.
Fitchburg State jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by McKinnon in the first inning, but Curry knotted the score at 1-1 as Laikyn Nadolny (E. Bridgewater, Mass./E. Bridgewater) notched a double and run scored in the top of the third.
The Falcons regained their lead in the bottom of the fifth frame as Cummings connected for her first collegiate homerun to drive in three. Junior Nicole Monroe (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) led off the inning with a single down the right field line and Trzcinski walked before Cummings stepped in a sent a blast over the left-center wall.
Curry battled back in dramatic fashion, matching Fitchburg State step by step as Mayo recorded a three-run shot to tie the score at 4-4 in the top half of the seventh. Fitchburg State would have the final say, rallying for the game-winning run in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Jill Moses (Dedham, Mass,/Dedham) clinched the Falcons victory with a sacrifice fly to left field, driving in classmate Meghan Jenkins (Dedham, Mass/ Dedham) for the game-winning run.
Sophomore Alli Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) earned the win in the circle (1-1), allowing four runs (zero earned) on eight hits through her complete game effort. Junior Amanda Peters (E. Bridgewater, Mass./E. Bridgewater) took the loss for the Colonels, going 6.2 innings with five runs on nine hits and five strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Curry limited Fitchburg State to only one run and four hits as the Colonels posted their fourth victory of the season with a 3-1 triumph.
Freshman Valarie LaSala (Seaford, N.Y./Island Trees) led Curry’s offensive front with a 2-for3 day at the dish, totaling two RBI with a pair of base-hits. Senior Kristen Jackman (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) and junior Joneiha Veiga (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) aided the Colonel offense with a combined four hits, four runs scored and one RBI, while Trzcinski finished 2-for-3 for Fitchburg State with a double.
Curry jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning as LaSala belted and RBI single and Jackman registered a RBI groundout. Fitchburg State cut the Colonel lead to 2-1 in the bottom for the frame on freshman Danielle Correia’s (W. Bridgewater, Mass./W. Bridgewater) run scoring double. Curry added an insurance run in the sixth inning on LaSala‘s second RBI base hit to close out all scoring.
Mayo (3-1) earned the victory in the circle for the Colonels, tossing a complete game gem with one earned run on four hits and six K’s. Senior Bethany Stone (Wells, Maine/Wells) (0-4) took the loss for the Falcons, pitching the complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits.
(Game recaps courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information)
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
