Softball Drops Pair of Games to Babson

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University softball team dropped a pair of games to host Babson College on Thursday afternoon at Alumni Field in Babson Park, Massachusetts.

Senior captain Nicole Latini (East Bridgewater, Mass.) went 5-for-7 with four runs and four RBIs at the plate to help the Beavers sweep the visiting Bears in the non-conference twinbill.  Babson (9-9) took game one from the Bears (12-6) by a score of 4-1 before closing out the day with a five-inning 14-2 victory in the nightcap.

Babson grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the second inning of game one, as Latini led off with a single and junior Ashleigh Phelps (West Chester, Pa.) followed with a two-run homer to left. It was Phelps' first homer of the season and second of her career.

Bridgewater State answered in the top of the third, as sophomore Jasmyn McCone (Taunton, Mass.) belted a solo homer to right – her first of the season – to make it 2-1. However, the Beavers came right back to re-extend their lead with two in the fourth. Latini again started things off with a single and advanced to second when Phelps reached on an error. After both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Kelly King (Kennebunk, Maine), sophomore Sam Pilkington (Westborough, Mass.) drove in Latini with an RBI-groundout to third and sophomore Christa Shorette (Southington, Conn.) followed with an infield single to plate Phelps.

That was more than enough for Babson pitcher Christina Miquel (Emerson, N.J.), who settled down after McCone's home run to retire 14 of the final 18 batters that she faced. The sophomore righthander went all seven innings, allowing one run on six hits, walking one and striking out nine, as she improved to 2-1 on the season. Latini paced the Beavers' offense with two hits and two runs scored in the opener, while Phelps also scored twice while driving in a pair.

Junior Melissa Harmon (Shrewsbury, Mass.) went 3-for-3 with a double in the game one loss for Bridgewater State, while McCone finished 2-for-4 with a double and a homer. Sophomore Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) suffered the loss (7-2) for the Bears, giving up two earned runs on six hits, walking one and fanning five.

The Babson offense wasted no time in game two, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first to take control of the contest. Junior Jackie Enos (Taunton, Mass.) led off with a walk, took second on a groundout, and advanced to third when junior Catie Funk (Scarborough, Maine) singled and took second on an error. Latini then plated both runners with a double down the right field line for a 2-0 Babson advantage, and junior Breezy DiPietro (Essex, Mass.) and sophomore Ashley Hamilton (Northfield, N.J.) each added bases-loaded walks later in the inning as the Beavers surged out to a quick 4-0 edge.

Babson added three more runs in the third, beginning when Enos drew her team's third bases-loaded walk of the contest to force in Pilkington. Senior captain Jess Pashos (Winchester, Mass.) then drove in DiPietro with a single to center, and Funk followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Hamilton and give the Beavers a comfortable 7-0 lead.

The Bears finally broke through against first-year starter Meghan Hayes (Robbinsville, N.J.) in the top of the fourth, as junior Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) blasted her team-leading seventh home run of the season over the wall in center to make it 7-1. However, the Beavers came right back in the bottom of the inning, erupting for seven runs en route to the eventual 14-2 victory. Enos and Latini each hit two-run singles in the frame, while Pilkington added a two-run double to cap off the outburst.

Hayes was outstanding in the circle for Babson, going all five innings and allowing two runs on only two hits, walking two and striking out seven. With the victory, the rookie righty evened her record at 2-2 on the season. Latini once again powered the offense for the Beavers, going 3-for-4 with a double, two runs, and four RBIs. Enos added one hit, two runs, and three driven in, and Pilkington collected two hits, including a double, scored twice, and knocked in two.

Junior Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) started and took the loss in game two for Bridgewater State, dropping her record to 5-4 on the year. Sophomore Corrie McCue (New Bedford, Mass.) joined Shaw with an RBI for the Bears, as she plated junior Brianna DeNucci (Newton, Mass.) with a single in the fifth.