Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 BANGOR, ME – Thomas softball saw its season come to a close, losing two games in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Softball Championship Tournament on Saturday. The Terriers fell to #2 Castleton, 9-2 in the first game of the day, then were knocked out of the double-elimination tournament with an 8-0 loss to #5 Lyndon State in the nightcap.
GAME ONE
Castleton picked up three runs to begin the top of the first of game two. Tori Fearon doubled to left and scored in the next at-bat on a Jessica Babcock single. Brittany Brayman and Babcock scored after a single for Brayman up the middle of her own followed by a Chelsea Grady 2RBI single.
The visiting Spartans, by way of being the home team and Thomas being the away team in their games Friday, scored solo runs again in the second and third. With two outs in the second, Kristi Lawless reached on an error by the shortstop. Fearon stepped in and scorched one down the left field line that got passed the left fielder Taylor Bergeron. Fearon was credited with a single and both she and Lawless were given two bases on the error.
With the score 4-0 in the top of the third, Castleton struck yet again. Stephanie Sylvester singled to short and scored on a Grady double to left center to make it 5-0.
Thomas plated two in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Spartan lead to three. Courtney Veilleux led off with a walk and advanced a base when Lauren Hachey reached on an error. Kelsey Crowe singled to score Veilleux and advance Hachey to second. Hachey scored moments later for the second Thomas run on a Nicole Ryder single, yet again right up the middle.
The Spartans grabbed another run in the top of the fifth on a triple by Babcock. Sylvester batted Babcock in with one out, grounding out to second to first.
Castleton poured on more in the top of the sixth, scoring runs from Ruby Bushey, Veronica Arnone, and Kristi Lawless on four hits and a Thomas error. The Spartans left the bases loaded with a 9-2 lead.
The Terriers led off the bottom of the seventh, down seven, with a 3-2 walk by right fielder Kate Thibodeau. Chelsea Hale pinch hit for Ashlee Quirrion and struck out looking, followed by a pinch-hit single by Gabrielle Martell. Hachey singled to left to load the bases with two outs, but Arnone struck out Taylor Jordan to pick up the save and the win.
GAME TWO
The Lyndon Hornets put up a seven spot on the Terriers in the bottom of the first, en route to an 8-0 elimination game win in five innings. Katie Davis picked up the win for the Hornets, allowing just four hits in five while striking out one.
Kelsey Crowe allowed all eight runs (five earned) on nine hits and a walk while fanning three. Taylor Jordan pitched the final inning and a third for Thomas with zeros across the board.
The Hornets managed four scoring plays in that first inning. Shelby Sheridan and Dakota Crane scored the first two on a Jena Finnegan triple to right center. Pitcher Davis singled through the right side to score Finnegan moments later and Katie Ste. Marie single to right as well, scoring Taylor Young and Davis. Lyndon made it 7-0 with some Thomas help. Shelby Sheridan singled to left and advanced to second, Barski moved to second and then scored along with Ste. Marie on a tough error.
Lyndon tacked on their eighth run, good enough to activate the eight-run mercy rule, in the third on as Finnegan stole second allowing Crane to steal home.
For the Terriers, Courtney Veilleux led the charge with two of their four hits. Korrie Laren and Faith Robinson rounded out the hit category, respectively.
Finnegan and Ste. Marie each had two RBI for Lyndon, while Taylor Young went 2-3 with a run scored.
Lyndon shut out Thomas in the final two innings and took the win to advance to Championship Sunday.
For seniors Crowe, Hachey, and Thibodeau, it marks the end of their collegiate careers, as they all will be graduating from Thomas College next week after spending four years apart of the softball program.
