WORCESTER, Mass. – Clark University softball (15-22, 4-16 NEWMAC) honored their seniors and closed out the regular season with a doubleheader against No. 15 nationally ranked WPI (38-2, 19-1 NEWMAC). The Cougars kept it close in each game, but late runs by the Engineers proved to be the difference in 7-3 and 14-7 losses.
How it Happened (Game One)
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WPI used an RBI double to plate the opening run in the top of the first, later loading the bases and scoring two more runs on a single to make it 3-0.
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Clark responded in the bottom of the inning, with senior Emelie Spence and sophomore Merry Griffin reaching base before a double from senior Madison Dillon cleared the bases and cut the deficit to one.
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The second inning was scoreless, with senior Brooke Buzzeo recording her third strikeout of the game in a one-two-three top half of the frame.
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A solo home run added to the lead in the third. The Cougars got two on in the fourth via a single from senior Sydney Lyons and a bunt single from Spence, but were unable to bring them home as the inning ended with WPI leading 4-2.
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Another solo shot made it a three-run game in the fifth, but the Cougars got the run back in the bottom of the inning when sophomore Avery Della Piana singled home Griffin, who had walked to lead off.
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After a hitless sixth inning, the Engineers added two insurance runs on a single and a sacrifice fly, while keeping the Cougars off the board in the bottom half to secure the 7-3 win.
How it Happened (Game Two)
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The Cougars struck first in the opening inning, starting with an RBI single by Madison Dillon that scored Spence. A following single from senior Felicia Salvati scored Dillon to make it 2-0 early.
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The Engineers responded in the second inning, pulling back in front thanks to a passed ball and a pair of singles to take a 3-2 lead after two.
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The lead flipped again in the third, as a Salvati single and a walk by Della Piana put runners on base, with both coming home on a two-RBI triple by junior Charlise Quigley to give the lead back to Clark. Quigley later stole home on a double steal with Spence to make it 5-3 after three.
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WPI made it four straight innings with a lead change, using a pair of RBI singles and two runs on a wild pitch to regain a 7-5 edge after four.
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An RBI single made it a three-run margin before a two-run homer extended the Engineers' lead to five after the fifth. Another RBI single set the score at 11-5 after the top of the sixth.
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Clark got a run back in the sixth, with Salvati ripping a two-out double before scoring on a single from sophomore Avery Dillon to make it a five-run game again.
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WPI added three runs in the top of the seventh with a solo home run and two RBI singles, holding the Cougars scoreless in the bottom half to close out the 14-7 win.
Inside the Box Score
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Senior Caitriona Andre has appeared in 58 career games and scored 16 runs.
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Senior Sydney Lyons has appeared in 35 games and scored five runs. She recorded her first two career hits in game one, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate.
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Senior Madison Dillon has appeared in 95 career games and has tallied 46 hits, 20 runs, and 30 RBI. She recorded four hits, three RBI, and a run in the doubleheader.
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Senior Erin Slavin has appeared in 85 career games, tallied 51 hits, and is batting .313 this season.
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Spence has appeared in 140 career games, recording 80 hits, scoring 71 runs, and stealing 27 bases, which ranks sixth in program history. She had three hits in the doubleheader and scored twice.
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Buzzeo has appeared in 69 career games in the circle, striking out 264 batters (fifth all-time), with 35 complete games (sixth all-time) and 18 victories. Her 109 strikeouts this season rank fifth in single-season program history.
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Senior Ella Traynor has appeared in 56 career games, recording 19 hits and four RBI.
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Salvati has appeared in 140 career games with 98 hits, 53 RBI, and 50 runs scored.
