By Emma Bynes
@emma_bynes4
Softball teams across the country flock to Florida over their respective spring breaks to play all kinds of competition and let the entirety of their rosters get reps. The reps did not stop for Springfield College softball after its trip down south, going 5-3 over eight games. Two battles against Emerson took place today, where four different Springfield pitchers took the mound — allowing for three first-years to continue getting lots of innings.
A pitcher’s duel was on tap for game one, as Springfield’s Amelia DeRosa and Emerson’s Caleigh Sheehan combined to allow only one run between the two teams. Stellar defense took command throughout the game, including highlights from freshman middle-infield tandem Katie Manzone and Brynlee Eckels.
However, the Pride fell down early, and stayed down after two singles into shallow centerfield got past the pair. With runners on first and third, sophomore Riley Caiazza lined another single into right to put the Lions up 1-0.
Motivated by her team’s scoring, Sheehan had begun to make hitters look silly — with many players whiffing on outside pitches during the bottom of subsequent innings. DeRosa followed suit, aided by a highlight double play from first baseman Kate Katsetos. The junior’s pitching certainly aided infielders as Emerson could only make weak contact on the ball.
First-year Lily McCauliffe relieved DeRosa in the fourth inning, ending her afternoon surprisingly early. Fortunately, McCauliffe looked excellent this afternoon,not allowing a single hit during her first two looks at Emerson hitters. During the top of the sixth inning, Manzone saved the hitless performance by scooping a grounder in front of second base, spinning and firing the ball to first for the double play — keeping Springfield’s deficit at one. “I think as a team, we really locked down on defense. Our pitchers did their thing, and we made the plays,” Manzone said.
Coach Sam Garcia agrees that defense is something her squad is “taking pride in this year. We are overstressing it with our first-year pitchers out there. We want to make sure that we can hold it out for our pitchers out there — defense wins ball games.”
Although the home team could not take game one, ultimately falling 1-0, clean defense remained a theme for the second game.
Underclassman pitchers took the mound in a high-scoring game two. For Springfield, Staten Island native Julia Rimshnick got the ball, and sophomore Kate Regan was the Lions’ counterpart.
Dismayed by their shutout performance in game one, the Pride’s bats came out hot during the bottom of the first. Eckels drew a walk, and advanced to second when DeRosa softly grounded a ball to third base. Carissa Pecchia, who notched her 100th career hit during the team’s trip to Florida, smoked a ball into deep left-center — scoring Eckels and landing herself halfway home.
Also joining the 100 hit club, Callie Gendron drew a four-pitch walk to put runners on first and second. The first of Emerson’s defensive blunders loaded the bases, allowing Lucy Puskas to clear the bases after a liner flew past Lions right fielder Avi Kuperman. Michaela Ponticello capped the Pride’s opening frame at five runs after a hard ground ball up the middle.
Emerson responded in the top of the second when Caiazza singled to right and a wild hop forced Manzone to make Springfield’s only error of the afternoon. Redeeming herself, Manzone smartly swallowed a grounder with no throw, keeping a runner from scoring but loading the bases for Sheehan. A rocketed double into left-center field cleared the bases — and the Pride held a 5-3 lead into the fourth inning.
After tying the game in the fourth and with runners on first and second to start the fifth, Emerson head coach Phil McElroy made a critical error — forgetting to re-enter his first-baseman after using a pinch-runner for her. The two sitting ducks did not advance initially, but a bases loaded walk followed by senior Ally Lacey’s single past Eckels’ outstretched arms gave Emerson their first lead of the second game. Robinson relieved her fellow first-year Rimshnick and struck out the final hitter of the inning on three quick pitches.
Garcia believes in both first-years. “It’s one of those grimey games where you just hope you are not the first team to make a mistake,” Garcia said. “Our pitchers beared down when we needed it and made key outs.”
In the sixth, the Lions’ momentum faded quickly, as Pride first baseman Katsetos worked back from an 0-2 count to make it full. She knew a battle was in front of her, and did not back away — lining the ball into the left-center gap to score two runs. Celebrations ensued on second base for Katsetos, and she fired up her teammates in the dugout, hoping to capture a split on the afternoon.
“I heard my teammates cheering me on the entire time,” Katsetos said. “They have my back and make it a lot easier on me.”
Jessica Gomez tied the game up for Emerson in the top of the sixth, but her moment was overshadowed by confusion and drama for the visitors during the bottom half of the frame. Re-entering the game for Springfield’s final round of at-bats, Sheehan was initially warned by umpires that her back foot was lifting from the mound. Eckels took second from a throwing error by third baseman Lacey and after Pecchia walked, Sheehan was finally called for a balk.
McElroy received a warning from the field umpire for arguing the decision, and Manzone rocketed the ball into center to put salt in the Lions’ wounds and give the Pride an 8-7 lead. Robinson closed out the game, facing four batters during the bottom half of the seventh.
The Pride face Western New England on Potter Field next Tuesday after earning themselves a 1-1 conference record Saturday afternoon.
Photo courtesy of Springfield Athletics