Softball Falls Twice at Gordon

WENHAM, Mass. - Two home runs by sophomore Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) and freshman Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.) sealed the 10-3 game two win for the Gordon College softball team to take a Commonwealth Conference doubleheader sweep over the Wentworth Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Scots took game one by a 5-1 score.

With the wins, Gordon improves to 8-19 overall and 3-11 in the CCC, while Wentworth drops to 4-17 overall and 0-9 in CCC play.

Game One: Gordon 5, Wentworth 1
Wentworth struck first in its half of the first frame on a single into right center from sophomore Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) that plated senior Karsyn Sawyer (Chatham, N.Y.) to take an early 1-0 lead. Gordon answered in the bottom of the first with a run of its own on a sacrifice fly by Kline to square the game at 1-all.

Neither team was able to plate a run through the next three innings. In the top of the fifth, Wentworth had a chance to gain the lead as freshman Emily Winter (Stratford, Conn.) reached third on ground ball from sophomore Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) with one out. However, Winter was stranded at third as the Leopards were retired to end the inning.

Over the fifth and sixth frames, Gordon tacked on four runs that pushed them to a 5-1 lead.

In the bottom half of the fifth, sophomore Sarah Ryder (Telford, Pa.) batted a two RBI single up the middle that was followed up by a triple from Kline to put the Fighting Scots up 4-1. Junior Emily Burkhart (Manheim, Pa.) rocketed a home run over the left field fence and put Gordon up 5-1 after six.

The Leopards threatened in the home half of the seven that started off with a walk to freshman Kathleen Dunn (Hull, Mass.). Freshman Libby White (Pittsfield, Mass.) pinch ran for Dunn and reached second on a stolen base and advanced to third on a ground ball out. White was stranded at third as a ground ball to the third baseman sealed the 5-1 game one win for Gordon.

Kline earned the win for the Fighting Scots as she tossed seven innings and allowed one run on one hit while she struck out eight and walked two. Kline also led Gordon's offense, going 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs, while Ryder went 2-for-3 with one run scored and two RBIs and sophomore Katie Dariano (Albany, N.Y.) went 2-for-3 with one run scored.

Freshman Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) was tagged with the loss as she pitched six innings and allowed five runs on seven hits while she struck out three and walked one. Willcutt led the Leopards and went 1-for-3 with a single and one RBI.

Game Two: Gordon 10, Wentworth 3
Two early home runs quickly put Gordon up 3-0 after three innings. Kline rocketed a two RBI homer into left center to give Gordon the 2-0 edge at the of the first and was followed up by a solo home run into left field from Jenkerson to put the Fighting Scots up 3-0.

Wentworth sparked a comeback that began in the fifth inning and tacked on three runs to even the score at 3-3 after six.

Sophomore Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass.) reached first on a throwing error to begin the fifth and later plated the first Leopards' run on Sawyer's single into left field. Wentworth began the sixth inning with back-to-back singles from Sabino and White that put runners at first and second with no outs. Senior Heather Pinkston (Concord, Calif.) put the Leopards within one on a single to right center. Pinkston then stole second, which allowed White to score the equalizer on a throwing error on the play.

With a tie entering the seventh, it was anyone's game, however, it was Gordon who struck a seven-run attack to put the score at 10-3.

Burkhart singled through the left side to begin the inning and later scored on senior Alyssa Unumb's (Bedford, Mass.) three RBI double into right center. Gordon went up 7-3 after Kline reached first on a throwing miscue by the second baseman that plated Jenkerson. Senior Marissa Meenan (Wayne, Pa.) knocked in two more runs for Gordon on a double down the right field line, while Burkhart capped off the inning with a single into the left field gap.

Wentworth were unable to spark a comeback as the side was retired and Gordon sealed the 10-3 game two victory.

Kline earned the win in game two as she pitched two innings of relief and allowed one hit. Sophomore Abigail Knowlton (Deer Isle, Maine) started for Gordon and allowed three runs on eight hits while she struck out two through four innings. Kline led the Fighting Scots and went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs, Meenan went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored, Unumb went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and Ryder went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Rutkey took the loss with seven runs allowed through two relief innings pitched on six hits. Freshman Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) gave up eight hits and three runs through four innings. Dunn and Sabino led the Black & Gold and went for a combined 4-for-7 with one run scored.

Wentworth takes on Nichols at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, while Gordon faces Lasell on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.