AMCATS Sweep Leopards in TCCC Twinbill

BOSTON, MASS. – Junior Holly Renna (Charlton, Mass.) pitched a four-hit shutout in the nightcap as Anna Maria completed a The Commonwealth Coast Conference sweep of Wentworth with a 2-0 win.  The AMCATS took the opening game, 8-4.  With the two wins, Anna Maria runs its win streak to three and improves to 9-15 (5-5 TCCC) while Wentworth sees its four-game win streak end, falling to 10-13 (3-7).

In the opener the hosts got on the board first when junior Lizz Harvey (McConnellsburg, Pa.) doubled home sophomore Krysta Cunha (New Bedford, Mass.).  However, the AMCATS responded with three runs in the top of the second to take a 3-1 lead, thanks in part to a two-run single from sophomore Becky Mercurio (Worcester, Mass.).  An inning later, Anna Maria extended its lead to 7-1 when sophomores Mary Moroski (Worcester, Mass.) and  Samanatha Putis (Charlton, Mass.) each had two-run home runs.

Wentworth came across to score two times in the fifth inning when Harvey drew a bases-loaded walk and senior Caylee Johanson (Windsor, Conn.) and an RBI on an infield single.  However, the Leopards, who earlier in the inning had a runner thrown out at the plate, left two runners on.  In the sixth inning the Leopards pulled within 7-4 when senior Cherie Dunn (Acton, Mass.) scored on an error.

Anna Maria got a run back in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single from junior Dominique Marchand (Mendon, Mass.) to make it an 8-4 game.  Wentworth had a runner on with one out in the bottom of the inning, but a double play ended the game.

Renna picked up the win as she allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and struck out four.  Putis was the lone AMCAT to have a multiple-hit game, as well as driving in two runs, while Morosky and Mercurio also drove in two runs.

Johanson took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) and striking out three batters.  Cunhan had a pair of hits and two runs scored, while Harvey drove in two runs.

Anna Maria did all of its scoring in the second game in its first at bat.  Junior Sarah Boyda (Oxford, Mass.) led off with a walk and advanced to third on a freshman Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, Mass.) single.  When Ruggeri stole second, Boyda took off for home, where she was safe.  The next batter, Moroski, doubled in Ruggeri to give Anna Maria a 2-0 lead.

Wentworth had at least one runner in scoring position in the second and fourth innings and would load the bases with one out in the sixth inning before Renna induced a popup and a lineout to end the threat.

Renna (6-9) allowed four hits and struck out seven, while offensively, Boyda and Ruggeri each recorded two hits.  Johanson (9-12) took the loss, allowing a pair of runs on eight hits and striking out five and recorded a pair of hits at the plate.  Cunha had Wentworth's other two hits.

Both teams are back in action on Saturday as Wentworth travels to Curry and Anna Maria hosts Eastern Nazarene