Marywood Softball March recap

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Photo credit/ Jason Ardan

Sophomore Emily McNally wallops a home run in a victory against SUNY Delhi.

March 13: Home vs. Oswego State

The Pacers opened their season on a Florida trip, kicking off the campaign against the Oswego State Lakers. Over the first 3 1/2 innings, only four base runners were mustered between the Pacers and Lakers. No one crossed the plate until back-to-back doubles from senior catcher Emily Rose and sophomore first baseman Emma McNally opened up the scoring.

Marywood wasn’t finished, tallying more four runs in the fourth and continuing the offense in the fifth with another pair. Oswego State managed a pair in the seventh, but Marywood’s lead was insurmountable. The Pacers opened the 2023 season with a 7-2 victory.

McNally and Rose were the two leading contributors for the Pacers, with Rose tallying a pair of hits and runs and McNally driving home two on a couple hits.

March 13: Away vs. Edgewood College

After a short break, the Pacers returned to action, squaring off against the Eagles of Edgewood College. The Pacers didn’t waste any time on offense, crossing the plate six times in both the first and second innings. Just for insurance, freshman outfielder Alex Dusman scored on a passed ball. The Eagles finally got on the board in the fourth, but at single run was all they could score, leading to a mercy rule victory by the Pacers, 13-1.

Senior catcher Ashdon Clark was the key driving force behind the Pacers offense, powering her first home run of the season, along with another knock, a pair of runs scored and driving in a quartet. Freshman pitcher Marissa Gregory had a masterful performance on the mound, throwing a complete game, allowing just three hits and a run, while striking out three.

March 14: Home vs. Simpson College

Three’s a streak, and the Pacers were looking to open their season on one, rumbling into a matchup with the Simpson College Storm. After a quick inning and a half, Marywood opened the scoring on a Brooke McKay RBI single. After a shutdown top of the third, McNally continued the offense for the Pacers, with her own RBI single. In the fourth, sophomore first baseman Jessica Hanley joined in on the RBI single party, giving the Pacers a 3-0 lead.

Simpson College thundered a home run to cut the deficit in the fifth. The Storm threatened in the sixth, but to no avail. In the seventh, the Storm had second and third with only one out but only pushed across one run. The Pacers then slammed the door to calm the brewing storm, winning 3-2.

Junior pitcher Mara Hamm diced the Storm’s offense, striking out six en route to her second victory in as many outings.

March 14: Away vs. Ohio Wesleyan University

The Pacers looked to extend their win streak, squaring off against the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops. The first three and a half innings were nearly silent for both squads offensively. The Battling Bishops began the scoring on a pair of errors by Marywood. Both offenses again fell dormant for the fifth inning, before Clark singled home the game-tying run.

The Battling Bishops singled home a run in the bottom half of the frame, regaining the lead. The Pacers had a chance to at least tie the game in the seventh, with McKay opening the inning with a double before advancing to third on a wild pitch. With a runner on third and no outs, it seemed the Pacers would have a chance to come out on top. Unfortunately, a pop out and a pair of strikeouts handed the Pacers their first loss, 2–1.

The pitching duo of sophomore Jessica Plunkett and freshman Sam Ferrera was solid, allowing only five hits and two runs, both unearned.

March 16: Away vs. Bowdoin College

After an off-day, the Pacers were revitalized and ready to get back to work, facing the Bowdoin College Polar Bears. After a quiet top half of the first from the Pacers, the Bears rallied for four runs in the bottom half. They added two more in the second. McKay singled in the fourth, getting the Pacers on the board, but that was it from the Pacers’ offense, as the Bears tallied two in the fourth and another in the sixth, handing the Pacers their second straight loss, 9-1.

March 16: Home vs. New England College

Trying to avoid a losing streak, the Pacers were pitted against the New England College Pilgrims. New England started the scoring early, tallying a run in the top half of the first. For both teams’ next two turns at bat, the offenses fell stagnant. The Pacers finally broke through in the bottom of the third, with a two-run double from McNally and a Clark sacrifice fly, taking a 3-1 lead.

The Pilgrims tallied a run in both the fifth and the sixth, tying the ballgame at three heading into the bottom of the sixth. Gregory drove home a run on a single to give the Pacers the lead, before freshman second baseman Priscilla Grill came around to score, extending the lead. Gregory shut down the Pilgrims in the seventh, finalizing the victory, 5-3.

McNally had quite the day, tallying that RBI pair, scoring a run and swiping a bag in the victory.

March 17: Away vs. Mount Saint Mary College

On the final day of their Florida trip, the Pacers opened the day with the Mount Saint Mary College Knights. Through the first four innings, it was a pitchers’ duel, with neither offense able to strike. The fifth inning yielded the only runs of the game, with Hamm contributing an RBI double before freshman shortstop Tori Para drove home a pair on a single. From there, the Pacers shut down the Knights, coming out victorious, 3-0.

Along with breaking the offensive silence, Hamm curbed the Knights, tossing a complete game shutout, allowing only four hits and four walks in the victory.

March 17: Home vs. SUNY Geneseo

The Pacers looked to knock off a team of Knights twice, this time squaring off against the SUNY Geneseo Knights. However, the Pacers’ second game started off badly, as they allowed five runs in the opening half frame. The Knights also crossed the plate once in the fifth and twice in the sixth, while the Pacers’ offense seemingly had already packed their bags and were in the taxi to the airport. The team ended the trip with a 8-0 loss, finishing the trip 5-3.

March 21: Away vs. Clarks Summit University (Game One)

Returning to their home state, the Pacers traveled to Clarks Summit to face the Defenders. The Pacers’ offense stunned the Defenders, as they crossed the plate seven times in the opening frame. After a quiet second inning, the Pacers scratched across another run in the third, before another seven- run inning in the fourth. The Pacers added three more runs in the fifth, leading to a 18-0 victory.

Hamm had a Shohei Ohtani-esque performance, going 2-2, with a double, a walk, a pair of runs scored and four RBIs, while throwing a four-hit complete game shutout with 10 punch outs.

March 21: Away vs. Clarks Summit University (Game Two)

The Pacers looked for an encore of their game one showing. The Pacers showed signs of a repeat, opening the scoring in the first. Clarks Summit decided that they waited long enough to start scoring, matching the Pacers in the first. The Pacers’ encore began in the second inning, when they totaled five runs in the frame. After the offense took an inning off, the Pacers scored three runs on singles by McNally and freshman utility player Mikaela Badner, sweeping the Defenders with a 9-1 victory.

Gregory threw a gem, throwing a complete game, along just one run and striking out nine, while contributing an RBI single.

March 24: Home vs. Cazenovia College (Game One)

After a dominating sweep of Clarks Summit, the Pacers returned to Scranton for their home opener, hosting the Cazenovia College Wildcats. After Gregory sat the Wildcats down one-two-three, Marywood got on the board early, thanks to a two-run double from Clark. Following another three up, three down inning, the Pacers tallied two more on junior outfielder Abbey Stalter’s RBI single and Rose’s RBI double.

In the bottom half of the third, the Pacers extended their lead with a two-run homer from senior outfielder Samantha Baltrusaitis, later followed by a sacrifice by Stalter, which brought home another. Clark contributed another RBI in the fourth, extending the lead to 8-0, before Gregory locked down the victory.

Baltrusaitis, Stalter and Clark were the driving forces for the Pacers’ offense, contributing four hits and seven RBIs. Gregory sliced and diced the Wildcats offense, striking out eight en route to a one hit, complete game shutout.

March 24: Home vs. Cazenovia College (Game Two)

Looking for consecutive sweeps, Marywood’s offense opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, with Rose’s sacrifice fly and an RBI hit by pitch from McNally. Both squads were sat down one-two-three in the second, before the Wildcats got on the board for the first time of the day, via a wild pitch. After a rather quiet fourth, the Wildcats opened the fifth by tying the game, before taking the lead on a sacrifice fly.

The Pacers responded in the fifth, scoring on a Wildcat error, tying the game at three. After getting around a lead off single, the Pacers struck three times on RBI knocks from Baltrusaitis, McNally and Hanley, before getting the brooms and sweeping the Wildcats 6-3.

Clark had a dominant performance, going 3-3, with a double, a pair of runs scored and drawing a walk.

March 26: Away vs. Marymount University (Game One)

To open their Atlantic East Conference schedule, the Pacers packed their bags and headed to Arlington, VA to face the Marymount Saints. The Pacers were sat down in order, before they allowed a home run to the Saints. The Saints tallied another in the second to double their lead, before both offenses were stifled for the next three frames.

The Pacers began to crack Marymount’s armor, scoring on an RBI single from Gregory. The team then loaded the bases with an opportunity to tie or take the lead. However, the Saints were able to wriggle out of the jam. The Pacers had one more at bat to try to change their fate, but to no avail, dropping their first conference game, 2-1.

Hamm had another solid performance, settling in after the first couple innings and throwing a complete game, striking out six Saints.

March 26: Away vs. Marymount University (Game Two)

Trying to salvage a split in the season series, the Pacers’ offense didn’t hesitate, with Para doubling and Rose singling, before Clark whacked a three-run blast. The Pacers loaded up the bases in the second, before Rose earned an RBI walk, extending the lead to 4-0. Marywood threatened again in the third, but was unable to keep tacking on. The Saints finally joined in the scoring, cutting the lead on a sacrifice fly.

Both teams were able to put a pair of players on base, but neither squad was able to drive them in. The Pacers’ fifth looked to be quick, with the first two being sat down. However, the Pacers put together a two-out rally, chalking up four consecutive singles with Rose driving in a run, before Clark notched another with a walk. The Pacers shut down the Saints across the final three innings, earning the 6-1 win.

Gregory tallied her sixth victory on a five-hit complete game stint. Clark and Rose sparked the Pacers’ offense, combining to go 4-6 with six RBIs, a pair of runs scored and a walk apiece.

March 28: Away vs. University of Scranton (Game One)

The Pacers returned to Scranton, but not to their home field, heading down the road to their crosstown foes, the University of Scranton Royals. After the Pacers were swiftly set down in the top of the first, the Royals struck for a pair of runs in home half. An identical result occurred in the second.

The third was silence from both sides, before the Pacers threatened in the fourth. Unfortunately, the Royals survived the situation unscathed. The Royals struck the dagger in, crossing the plate four times in the fourth, before shutting down Marywood and clinching the victory, 8-0.

March 28: Away vs. University of Scranton (Game Two)

To open Game Two, the Pacers’ offense was up and down in a blink of an eye. The Royals came out striking, though, plating four runs in the bottom of the first. The second inning was brisk, as was the top of the third. The Pacers allowed a home run in the third and another in the fourth, showing signs of an encore from game one.

The Pacers loaded the bases up in the fifth, before Hamm drove home a pair with a single. Marywood was right back at it in the sixth, narrowing the lead to three with McKay’s single. Plunkett worked around a pair of base runners to maintain the deficit.

The seventh is when the Marywood offense broke through, with Clark doubling a run in, before Badner drove home another two, tying the game at six. The Pacers had the bases loaded with an opportunity to overtake the Royals, but were unable to. The Pacers then earned a pair of outs to start the frame, with extra innings looming. However, a single and a walk followed, before the Pacers allowed a walk-off double, getting swept by the Royals, 8-7.

Badner and Hamm combined for four of the Pacers’ hits and RBIs in the loss.

March 29: Home vs. SUNY Delhi (Game One)

The Pacers returned home, looking to build some momentum after the sweep, hosting the SUNY Delhi Broncos. The Pacers offense started early, thanks to an RBI single from McNally. After stagnant second turns at bat and Hamm pitching around a two-out double in the top of the third, McNally struck again, launching a home run.

The fourth inning yielded no runs for either squad, nor did the top of the fifth for the Broncos. Rose spanked an RBI single to extend the Pacers lead, before Para scored in the sixth. The Broncos reached base on an error in the seventh, but Hamm worked around it, clinching the win 4-0.

Hamm did it on both sides of the ball, tallying a pair of hits and a run scored, while tossing a three-hit complete game shutout. McNally played a pivotal part in the Pacers’ win, going 2-3, with a pair of RBIs and a home run.

March 29: Home vs. SUNY Delhi (Game Two)

Looking to end the month with a sweep, the Pacers started in the right direction, shutting down the Broncos in the top of the opening frame, before crossing the plate five times in the first. After a quick second inning, the Pacers struck again, on a McKay double. Both squads were scoreless in the third and the Broncos again failed to score in the fourth. The Pacers were able to plate another run on an RBI single from freshman catcher Mia Amorino. Hamm drove home another in the fifth, clinching the sweep on the mercy rule victory, 8-0.

Gregory allowed only three hits and a pair of walks, while striking out six in the complete game shutout, while also driving home a pair at bat.

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The Pacers ended March 12-6, sitting 1-1 in the Atlantic East. Clark finished the month leading the Pacers in most offensive categories, including batting average (.372), hits (16), home runs (2), RBIs (15) and slugging percentage (.605). Clark finished tied atop the Pacers’ leader board in doubles, along with Para and McKay, with four. Gregory and Hamm were workhorses for the Pacers’ tossing a combined 92 innings, going 12-4 and striking out 74 opponents.

Stats are as of April 10 from MarywoodPacers.com

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