Softball Drops Two at LIU Post Friday
Links: Box Scores (Game 1 | Game 2)
BROOKVILE, N.Y. – Despite outhitting the Pioneers in game one and rallying in the seventh inning in game two, the Merrimack College softball team suffered two non-conference losses at LIU Post on Friday afternoon, falling in game one 4-2 in by just one-run in a 6-5 loss in game two.
The Basics
Score (G1): LIU Post 4, Merrimack 2
Score (G2): LIU Post 6, Merrimack 5,
Records: Merrimack (21-10) | LIU Post (19-15)
Location: LIU Softball Complex | Brookville, N.Y.
How It Happened (G1)
- 3rd inning – Merrimack would take the first lead of the day in New York on Friday afternoon, as junior Alyssa Williamson (Scarborough, Maine) would continue to be clutch at the plate for Merrimack with a bases-loaded RBI single, making for the fourth consecutive single for the Warriors to start the inning, giving Merrimack a 1-0 lead. It would remain there after the frame as the next three batters would go down in order.
- 3rd inning – LIU Post would answer in the bottom of the third inning, as a pair of Pioneers would hit back-to-back solo home runs following two straight outs to start the inning, give LIU a 2-1 lead after three innings. Merrimack would look to answer in the top of the fourth, but would leave two runners stranded.
- 5th inning – Merrimack would tie the game back up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning, kicked off by a two-out double from senior captain Samantha Waskowitz (Killingworth, Conn.). Fellow senior captain Haley Currie (Burlington, Mass.) would step up next an reach on an error the would allow Waskowitz to score the second run of the game for the Warriors.
- 5th inning –The Pioneers would again answer in the bottom of the same inning Merrimack scored in, retaking a lead in the fifth. After two outs to begin the inning, a walk would put a runner on. That walk was followed by two consecutive RBI doubles, to put LIU Post ahead by two runs, a deficit the Warriors would be unable to climb back from.
- 7th inning – Merrimack would manage to get two runners on in scoring position in their final at bat, putting the tying run on second base with one out, but two straight outs at the plate would leave the runners stranded.
How It Happened (G2)
- 1s inning – Merrimack would again hop out to the first lead in game two, grinding out a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. A pair of walks and a double from Williamson would load the bases with just one out in Merrimack's first at bat. Sophomore Nicole Nanof (Goffstown, N.H.) drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right, followed by a two-RBI single from Tamarra Crowe (North Bend, Wash.) to give the Warriors a 3-0 lead after half an inning.
- 1st inning – Once again, Merrimack would see LIU Post answer in the bottom of the same inning. A pair of singles to start the inning for the Pioneers would be followed by a sacrifice and a fielder's choice to score the first run for LIU. A second run would score on an error on the next play, then consecutive singles from the Pioneers would see the third and game-tying run scored before the end of the first.
- 4th inning –The second-fourth innings were quiet for Merrimack, managing just two hits, and LIU Post would take its first lead of the game in the fourth. Base hits would again help the Pioneers as back-to-back singles, with an error putting the first runner on second, would score the fourth run of the game for LIU Post to put them ahead 4-3 after four.
- 5th/6th inning – Merrimack would again go quietly in the fifth and sixth inning while the Pioneers added on runs to their lead. LIU Post would add a run in the fifth on three consecutive singles to open the inning, and then another in the sixth on a one-out solo home run to take a 6-3 lead into the final inning.
- 7th – The Warriors looked to rally in the sixth as singles from sophomore Kristina Terrazzano (Pelham, N.H.) and senior Mariah Tenney (Winchendon, Mass.) and an error from LIU would load the bases for Merrimack with one out. Terrazzano would cross home on a wild pitch, followed by freshman Tiffany Mangiameli (Middlefield, Conn.) reaching on an error to score a run to cut the deficit to just one. But two straight outs for Merrimack would leave the tying run on second.
Inside The Numbers
- G1: LP – Currie (9-3) 4.0 IP, 5H, 2ER, 4K
- G2: LP – Cook (6-4) 6.0 IP, 11H, 3ER, 7K | SP – Zambello: 6.0, 4H, 1ER, 3K
- The Warriors have kept games close all season, showing again on Friday with losses ofjust one and two runs. Of Merrimack's 10 losses in 31 games this season, six of those losses have come by just one run.
- Nanof finished Friday afternoon going 3-for-5 at the plate across both games and adding an RBI. She has bumped her average up as of late as she is currently on a four-game hit streak and has recorded six hits in her last 10 at bats.
Up Next
The Warriors are back home tomorrow to host Saint Anselm for two NE10 divisional games beginning at 1:00 p.m.
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