Beverly, MA --- Endicott junior Colleen Martin (Cape Elizabeth, ME) smacked the game-tying three-run homer and classmate Krista Fales (Melrose, MA) produced the game-winning run on a single as the third-seeded Gulls scored four-times in the bottom of the seventh to walk-off with the 5-4 triumph over #6 Worcester State in the quarterfinals of the ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament.
With the win Endicott improves to 23-17-1 and will play the victor of tonight's #7 Simmons and second-seeded Salve Regina matchup tomorrow at 12 PM at Brandeis. The Lancers end their 2012 campaign at 21-20.
The Gulls opened the game with a lead-off home run by third-year Jocelyn Russo (Middletown, CT) for her first of the season. They looked poised to score again with runners on first and second and two outs, but junior Hannah Everson (Methuen, MA) retired the final batter on a foul-out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the second, Everson yielded a lead-off single in the second before she settled down and retired 14 of her next 18 batters that she would see thought the seventh.
Worcester State cut into the lead in the top of the third on an RBI ground-out by Everson to make the score 2-1. Junior Aimee Lamoureux (E. Brookfield, MA) reached on a miscue in the infield and then moved to third on a base-knock by fourth-year Ashley Howe (Winchendon, MA).
In the very next inning, the Blue and Gold evened things up 2-2 on a plated run on a ground-out by Hassett. Senior Lauren Besozzi (Milford, MA) began the top of the fourth with a single, reached second on a bunt and advanced to third on a passed ball to get into scoring position.
Worcester State added some insurance with two unearned runs in the top of the seventh. With runners on first and second and two outs, the Gulls third-baseman make a fielding error and a wild throw to first which let two Lancers cross home plate.
But Endicott got to Everson in the seventh when sophomore Alexandria Moise (N. Reading, MA) started the rally with a pinch-hit single with one out. Russo followed with a double to set the table for Martin's team-leading sixth homer of the season.
Devlin drew a walk and then Fales rapped out a two-out single to the centerfielder, who misplayed the ball and allowed the game-winning run to cross the plate as her throw was not in time to nab the runner.
Everson (14-8) shouldered the setback as she allowed five runs (four earned) on ten hits to go with three walks and a trio of strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Sophomore Nell O'Connor (Harwich, MA) went the distance allowing four unearned runs on five base-knocks. O'Connor (9-6) also fanned four and did not issue a free pass.
Russo was 3-for-4 and sophomore Jesse Bilafer (Concord, MA) added a pair of safeties and there were no multi-hitters for the Lancers. Besozzi would score twice for WSU.