SVC Softball Ends Season, Swept By Newbury
Article Courtesy: Katie Greene, Newbury SID
Box Score Game 1 Box Score Game 2
BROOKLINE, Mass. – The Newbury College softball team closed out the 2010 home season with a double-header sweep of Southern Vermont College Saturday afternoon 6-1 and 4-3. Freshman Talan Barron led the Mountaineers offensively going 5-for-8 overall on the day and knocking in two runs.
Freshman Katie O’Hara opened up the day by striking out the side in the top of the first. In the bottom half of the frame her battery jump started the Nighthawk offense with a one-out infield single. Two batters later first baseman Catherine O’Connell kept the inning alive, reaching on a fielder’s choice, plating Brittany Stracher for the first run of the game.
Newbury added to their one-run lead in the third as Stracher led off the inning, reaching on a two-base error by the shortstop and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher for the first out. She came in to score the second run of the game on a base-hit back up the middle by O’Connell.
It was all O’Hara would need as she dominated Southern Vermont for seven innings allowing just one run while scattering five hits and fanning 12 Mountaineers for the complete game win for her seventh victory of the season. Entering the day the Maryland native needed just 15 strikeouts to hit the century mark on the season and toed the rubber in game two just three shy of 100.
Once again the Nighthawks gave O’Hara the early lead as Mark led off the bottom half of the first with a base hit into centerfield. She went from first to third on an infield single by Stracher and came across to score the first run of the game on a fielding error by the second baseman.
They added to their lead an inning later. Second baseman Teressa Farioli lined a single into right field with two outs to keep the inning alive. Jordan followed with a base hit of her own, moving Farioli to third and bringing the order back around to the top. Mountaineer starter Gabrielle Remillard walked both Mark and Stracher, back-to-back, to force home Farioli with the second run of the game.
In the top of the third, O’Hara recorded her 100th strikeout of the season, striking out catcher Alyssa Davis for the third out of the inning. She finished the game allowing two runs – one earned – on four hits in five innings of work and recording five strikeouts to put her at 102 on the year. Freshman Sarah Young pitched two innings of solid relief allowing just one run on two hits while striking out three en route to her first save of the season.
Sophomore Kayla Whitman crushed her fifth home run of the year in game two to round out the box for SVC.
The Nighthawks are currently 12-21 and 5-10 in the conference with one game remaining at Lesley tomorrow afternoon, start time is set for 12:00 p.m. Southern Vermont finished the season at 3-25 and 1-13 in the NECC.
