SOFTBALL DROPS 7-4 DECISION TO BAY PATH

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Junior pitcher Keelin Dougherty (Northfield, N.H.) notched her first win of the season while collecting three hits to lead the Bay Path College softball team past Emmanuel College, 7-4, Monday morning in Day 2 action of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The win was the first of the year for the Wildcats who improve to 1-2 while the Saints drop to 1-2 with the loss.

The Wildcats took an early 2-0 lead, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. Dougherty led off the game with a single down the left field line and came around to score on a sac-fly by sophomore third baseman Nicole Ogden (Palmer, Mass.). Sophomore second baseman Marina Rhodes (Providence, R.I.) plated the second Bay Path run after drawing a walk and making her way around the bases with the help of an Emmanuel error and a wild pitch to give the visitors the early two run cushion.

Emmanuel cut the lead in half, making it a 2-1 game with a run in the bottom of the second.  Senior designated player Kelly LLoid (Issaquah, Wash.) connected on a one-out double to right center and would come around to score the first EC run following a pair of Bay Path errors.

Bay Path answered, pushing the lead back to two with a run in the top of the third to make it 3-1. Junior shortstop Emily Serrano (North Adams, Mass.) led off the inning with a four-pitch walk. The Wildcats were able to manufacture the run without a hit as Serrano came across to make it a 3-1 game on a wild pitch.

The Saints threatened to manufacture a run of their own as junior catcher Julia Levins (Uxbridge, Mass.) led off the third with a walk before stealing second and third with no outs. Unfortunately she was unable to score as the Wildcats were able to cut her down at the plate on a squeeze attempt with one out to end the threat.

Emmanuel would push a run across in the fourth to pull back within one at 3-2 on an RBI single up the middle by senior right fielder Jackie Murray (Saugus, Mass.) but Bay Path would open things up with a four run sixth to take a 7-2 lead.

The Wildcats collected the four runs on five hits including a two RBI triple by freshman left fielder Casey Botelho (Providence, R.I.) to bump their lead to five which proved to be enough despite allowing two runs in the bottom of the seventh to the Saints.

Dougherty earned the win for Bay Path, going the distance and allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits while walking four and striking out two. She was also 3-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI.

Levins was the loser for the Saints, tossing just one inning and allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks. Lloid enjoyed a 3-3 performance at the plate while Murray collected two hits in the loss.

The Saints will return to action later this afternoon when they face off against Fenway foe Wentworth Institute of Technology at 1:30 PM while Bay Path takes on Wentworth momentarily.