New Haven, Conn. (March 30) -- In the Northeast-10 opener for both teams, Assumption dropped game one by a 2-0 final in nine innings before earning the split with a 3-0 shutout of Southern Connecticut on Wednesday afternoon. The games were pushed back a day and relocated to Connecticut due to unplayable field conditions in Worcester, with the Greyhounds batting in the bottom of each inning as the designated home team.
In game one, neither team could generate any offense and the game headed into the ninth inning scoreless thanks to standout performances by starting pitchers Chelsea Durso (Salem, N.H./Salem) and SCSU's Jayme Larson. The best chance for Assumption came in the bottom of the seventh as the Greyhounds loaded the bases with no outs. SCSU got out of the jam though as Caitlin Clary (Belmont, N.H./Belmont) grounded into a double play and Tanya Robidoux (Hooksett, N.H./Manchester Central) grounded out to third to end the threat.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the Owls finally got on the board as Jessica Rosa drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Julie Muscarella was sacrificed over to second. Muscarella came home on a single up the middle by Stacy Pouliot to give the Owls the 1-0 lead and Pouliot eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to center for the second run.
In the bottom of the ninth, Amy Gordon (Seekonk, Mass./Bishop Feehan) reached on a one-out single thru the left side, but the Greyhounds weren't able to score as the Owls took the 2-0 final. Durso took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the season as she allowed two earned runs in 8.2 innings, scattering seven hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Larson picked up the win for the Owls, going nine innings and surrendering nine hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Offensively for the Greyhounds, Lauren Medeiros (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) and Melissa Jalbert (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) each had a pair of hits.
In game two, it was the Greyhounds who struck first as Assumption pushed across a single run in the bottom of the second. Freshman Nicole Boris (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) reached on a single and came home on a two-out RBI double by Jalbert for the early 1-0 lead. Assumption extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth as Medeiros laced a two-RBI double to score Robidoux and Lisa Donato (East Hartford, Conn./East Catholic). The Greyhounds chased SCSU starting pitcher Brittany Hill from the game in the inning after she went four innings and allowed three earned runs on six hits.
Junior pitcher Jennifer Lowrey (Assonet, Mass./Apponequet) picked up the victory the Greyhounds to improve to 2-3 on the season. Lowrey went the distance for the Greyhounds, scattering three hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts. Medeiros and Robidoux each picked up two hits in the second game to lead the offense.
With the split, the Greyhounds now sit at 7-6 overall and 1-1 in the Northeast-10, while the Owls are now 8-7 overall and 1-1 in league play. Assumption is back in action on Saturday as the Greyhounds are slated to host Le Moyne in a doubleheader beginning at Noon.
