By Jill Campbell
Staff Writer
Equipped with bats and brooms, Springfield College softball swept Emerson College in its home-opening doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Potter Field. The Pride defeated Emerson 6-2 in the opener, and 11-3 in the following game.
The pair of wins improved the Pride’s overall record to 10-6 and 4-2 in conference play.
In the first game, Kirsten Drobiak and Sam Cox had doubles and plated two each time. Talia Loda had a lights-out performance on the mound and earned the win. She allowed just two hits and struck out six in five innings of work.
The Pride broke the stalemate in the bottom of the third inning when Cox drove in senior Melissa Nelson and sophomore Mackenzie Navarro. Junior Alicia Pavadore contributed to the cause when she singled to third and urged an error which plated Cox and senior Jenna Webb. The Pride tacked on another two in the bottom of the fourth, when Drobiak found a hole in right center scoring Webb and Nelson.
Emerson attempted to rally, producing only a lone run in both the 6th and the 7th inning. Its efforts proved to be too little too late, and Springfield took the win.
The Pride had an abundance of extra base hits in the second game, with doubles from Melissa Nelson, Sam Cox, Elizabeth Joseph and Jordyn Moquin, as well as a triple from Mackenzie Navarro. Kristen Drobiak also had a hot bat with a homerun and a double of her own.
Emerson jumped on the board first with a sacrifice fly from Kodie Cash, scoring one. However, Springfield struck back with a base hit from Jenna Webb that plated Navarro. Things really started heating up for the Pride in the bottom of the second, who tacked on another six runs thanks to a single and a double, as well as a 3-run homer from Drobiak.
Emerson fought back in the third with another sac fly from Cash, and added on to that with a solo shot from Kallista Leonardos.
The Pride solidified their lead even more in the sixth inning. After a double, single, and a fielder’s choice, the score was 10-3 and Springfield was only one run away from the mercy rule. Lindsey Ziegler then stepped up to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to center, plating Webb and bringing the Pride to an 11-3 victory.
Head coach Julie Perrelli believes that the team’s success was fueled by a lesson learned.
“I think they came in with a lot of confidence and positivity. We suffered two tough losses against WPI on Thursday and they bounced back really strong from that, knowing that they can’t sit back and they need to come out and attack in conference games. Learning a lot from WPI helped for today I think. Our defense was outstanding – diving plays, double plays – its just a lot of fun.”