Softball Endicott Athletic Communications

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Seventh-Inning Rally Lifts Endicott Past No. 20 Husson On Day One, 7-4

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

BANGOR, Maine — The Endicott softball team defeated host No. 20 Husson University, 7-4, in the opening game of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the Robert & Frances O'Keefe Softball Field. 

WP (11-5): Analise Grady (Reading, Mass.) — 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
LP (23-5): Ana Lang (Searsport, Maine) — 7.0 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 6 K

Trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning, Ella Tower (Windham, N.H.) delivered a clutch two-run single up the middle to give the Gulls a 5-4 lead.

Vania Moniz (Salem, N.H.) made the Eagles pay for an error two batters later, roping a bases-clearing double to left field for a 7-4 advantage.

Grady closed out the contest in the bottom half, working around a leadoff single via two pop outs and a groundout. 

Endicott came back twice in the contest, trailing 1-0 after one and 4-3 after four.

In the third inning, Tower broke through for the Gulls again, this time with a two-run RBI single to right field.

Elyse Saccoccio (Coventry, R.I.) followed with an RBI single to right center field, giving Endicott a 3-1 lead at the time.

In the fourth inning, Husson plated three runs to rally back and reclaim its second lead of the matchup, 4-3, setting the stage for Tower's heroics in the seventh.

Endicott's offense was led by Abby McClaflin (Easthampton, Mass.), Tower, and Saccoccio, who each tallied three hits on the day.

Tower drove in a team-high four RBI, while Moniz added two RBI in the win.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE 

  • Endicott leads the all-time series, 2–1.
  • The Blue and Green are the only No. 4 seed to win a game in the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament today out of 16 teams.
  • Second nationally ranked victory of the season (No. 12 Tufts, 11-4, April 15).
  • Grady picked up her 11th win of the year.
  • Tower recorded a career-high four RBI.
  • Moniz registered her fourth double this season.
  • Fourteenth multi-hit game of the spring for McClaflin (2-for-3, 2 runs scored).

WHAT'S NEXT 

Endicott (27-13) will play the winner of MIT/Colby on Friday, May 15 at 11 AM.

Husson (36-5) will play the loser of the previously mentioned matchup at 1:30 PM.