Softball Endicott Athletic Communications

NCAA TOURNAMENT: Softball Falls To MIT, 9-3; Gulls Await Opponent In Elimination Game Later Today

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

BANGOR, Maine — The Endicott softball team fell to MIT, 9-3, in the winner's bracket round of the NCAA Tournament Husson Regional on Friday afternoon at O'Keefe Field. 

WP (17-5): Sharona Huang (Duluth, Ga.) — 4.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
LP (8-4): Kristen Beebe (Brentwood, N.H.) — 1.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 K

After Mia Mitchell (Medford, Mass.) singled to center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning, Maddie Beeley (Salem, N.H.) eventually stepped up to the plate with two outs and launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence, giving the Gulls an early 2–0 lead. 

The Engineer responded with five runs in the next half inning via a two-run single and a bases-clearing double to pull in front 5-2.

MIT (35-9) added a solo run in the third (RBI single) and three more in the sixth (two doubles) to seal the victory, and move to 2-0 in the NCAA Tournament. 

Endicott cut the deficit to three in the third thanks to a bases loaded RBI fielder's choice by Beeley, following back-to-back hits from Mitchell and Abby McClaflin (Easthampton, Mass.) and a walk by Kylyn McLaren (Rochester, N.H.). 

From there, Huang only allowed two baserunners to reach (none in scoring position) the rest of the way. 

Mitchell and Beeley led the offense, as the duo had two hits apiece. Beeley also drove in three runs, one shy of tying her career high. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

  • MIT leads the all-time series, 6-5.
  • The Engineers are receiving votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 poll (ranked No. 25 last week).
  • Beeley blasted her second career homer.
  • Mitchell recorded her 13th multi-hit game this season.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (27-14) will take on the winner of No. 20 Husson/Colby at 4 PM. MIT (35-9) will face the winner of the 4 PM game tomorrow at 11 AM.