West Massachusetts News

Eph first year pitcher Sadie Leonard fresh off her NESCAC Pitcher of the Week award last week faced just 24 Chapman batters and struck out 15 in the Ephs' 4-2 first game win over Chapman University (12-6). Leonard allowed just two hits and two runs.
 
The Ephs (4-8) opened the scoring in the game with a 3-run fourth inning. Kelly McGuigan tripled to center field drive in Tayler Wise who had doubled down the left field line. Sidney Fleming followed McGuigan's triple with a 2-run home run also to center field.
 
Chapman notched their only two runs in the bottom of the inning and the Ephs added another run in the top of the seventh inning when Taylor Wise singled to center to drive in Bailey Burger-Moore.
 
Leonard sealed the win by keeping Chapman off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh
to secure the win.
 
Game two was a totally different experience. Chapman opened up an 8-3 lead over the Ephs through the first six innings.
 
The Ephs scored one run in the first, second and fourth innings, but trailed 6-3. Tayler Wise scored the Ephs first run when she singled to right field and then took second base on a groundout to the pitcher. Wise came home on the Chapman left fielder's error on a ball hit by Bri Kang.
 
Chapman answered the Eph run with a 4-run first inning.
 
In the second inning the Ephs got a leadoff single from Savanah Slater. Slater came home on a double to right center field by Tayler Wise. Slater also scored the Ephs third run in the fourth inning when she walked leading off the inning. She advanced to second base on a passed ball and then scored when Alyana Granados singled to left field.
 
The Ephs were blanked in the third through the six innings and trailed Chapman 8-3 going into the top of the seventh inning. Tayler Wise the first batter reached first on an error by the first baseman. Ronnie Ramos walked. Kelly McGuigan reached first base and Ramos advanced to second base, but Wise was out at third. Louisa Coughlin was then inserted as a pinch runner for McGuigan.
 
Bri Kang's double to right center field scored Ramos and moved Coughlin to third base. Bailey Burger-Moore followed with a single to right field and that scored Coughlin and moved Kang to third. Vicky Trujillo Balderas then singled to the pitcher advancing Burger-Moore to second base.
 
Savannah Slater walked to load the bases. Burger-Moore scored on a passed ball. Sydney Fleming then reached base on a fielder's choice and Balderas scored to tie the game at 8.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning the Ephs hurt themselves with a walk, an error, and the game-winning run for Chapman scored on a wild pitch.

Before heading to the airport to fly back to campus Kris Herman stated, "We played well in spurts this week and learned a ton. I know the players, like me, are excited for the new England part of our season. Today Sadie pitched well again and Kelly and Sydney continued to lead us in the power game. In game two we could have coasted to a big loss but didn't give in until the final swing.  It was an exciting way to end the trip." 
 
Next up for the Ephs is the beginning of NESCAC play. Saturday April 1 the Ephs will play a doubleheader at Bowdoin with the first game starting at noon and on Sunday April 2 they will play a doubleheader versus Bates, but those games have been moved to the campus of Colby College in Waterville, Maine. The first game versus Bates will start at 2 PM. 

Original source can be found here.