FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Warriors, Chargers Advance During Tuesday's First Round Action
One higher-seeded team and one lower-seeded team won during the First Round of play of the 2018 Northeast-10 Conference Softball Championship. Here's how Tuesday's action played out -
#3 NE Merrimack 2, #4 NE Assumption 0
NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. – Merrimack defeated Assumption, 2-0, in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship First Round game on Tuesday afternoon at Martone-Mejail Field.
The Warriors struck for two runs in the first inning, thanks to an Assumption error. With junior Nicole Nanof and senior Alyssa Williamson on first and second with one out, a routine fly out to center got the second out of the inning. However, the throw into the infield sailed over the third baseman's head and allowed Nanof to advance to third. Williamson advanced trying to get into a rundown, but no throw came and that put runners on second and third for Merrimack. After an illegal pitch extended the inning, junior Kristina Terrazzano took the next pitch she saw up the middle, scoring both runners.
That was all senior pitcher Megan Cook, pictured, needed. After a quick first inning, she allowed just one hit until one out in the sixth inning. She had six strikeouts in that span. The Greyhounds threatened in the seventh with a lead-off single by Alyssa Beaton. The pinch runner moved to second on a wild pitch, but Cook got a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to herself to squash any rally chances for the visitors.
#4 SW New Haven 5, #3 SW Le Moyne 2
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After having just completed a three-game regular season series against Le Moyne, New Haven followed the Dolphins back to Syracuse for one more match-up, this time in the opening round of the Northeast-10 Championship. Behind a pair RBI each from senior left fielder Tori Schiebe and junior short stop Taylor Luzzi, the Chargers posted a 5-2 victory to advance to the quarterfinal round on Thursday.
Overall on the day, the Chargers scattered eight hits which came from five different players. Luzzi led all of the Blue and Gold bats with her two RBI coming on three hits in four at bats as she was one of two players to finish with a multi-hit game. Joining her in leading the way was Schiebe whose two RBI came on a pair of hits.
In the circle, the Chargers two sophomore hurlers split the innings with Megan Butts opening the game and earning her team-leading 13th victory of the season. Butts threw the first four innings allowing one unearned run on four hits and a pair of walks, while striking out one. Kylie Stonebraker threw the final three innings allowed an earned run on three hits and a walk. She also struck out three batters.
2018 NE10 Softball Championship Schedule
Tuesday, May 1st
First-Round
Game 1: #3 NE Merrimack 2, #4 NE Assumption 0
Game 2: #4 SW New Haven 5, #3 SW Le Moyne 2
Thursday, May 3rd, Friday, May 4th and Saturday, May 5th
Championship Weekend (to be hosted by Adelphi, #1 seed, Southwest Division)
Thursday, May 3rd
Game 3: #3 NE Merrimack vs. #2 SW Pace | 12:00 PM
Game 4: #4 SW New Haven vs. #2 NE Southern New Hampshire | 2:30 PM
Friday, May 4th
Game 5: Game 4 winner vs. #1 SW Adelphi | 12:00 PM
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. #1 NE Saint Anselm | 2:30 PM
Saturday, May 5th
Game 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner | 12:00 PM
- Information for this release provided by the athletic communications staffs at Merrimack and New Haven
ABOUT THE NE10
The NE10 is an association of 15 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 student-athletes compete in conference championships, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.