Bagley's near no-hitter helps Wheaton salvage split at Springfield

March 29, 2008

SPRINGFIELD, MA- Wheaton College sophomore Andrea Bagley (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) came within two outs of pitching a no-hitter during a 1-0 game-two victory at Springfield College after the Lyons fell, 3-2 in nine innings during the opener in each team's first New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) action of the season on Saturday at Potter Field. Wheaton, which is receiving votes in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, is now 14-4 overall and 1-1 in league play, while the Pride is 7-7 and 1-1.

During the second contest, Wheaton scored the only run Bagley would need in the first inning, as freshman Marissa Hobocan's (Shelton, CT/Saint Joseph) two-out single with the bases loaded plated the game's lone run. The Lyons had opportunities to add to their lead but stranded eight runners over the first four innings, finishing with 11 for the game.

Bagley not only flirted with a no-hitter but also tossed three perfect innings to begin the contest. After walking the leadoff hitter in the fourth, she set down the next six batters, and a leadoff walk in the sixth was erased when a Pride hitter popped up to junior catcher Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, CT/Brookfield), who tossed to first to complete a double play. Sophomore Bryn Worrilow (North Babylon, NY/North Babylon) smacked a clean double to left field with one down in the seventh to break up the no-hit bid before Bagley induced a pair of fly ball outs, including a long drive to center that junior Brady Benton (Concord, NH/Concord) hauled in for the final out.

Bagley recorded her one-hitter while striking out four and walking two, as she fired her first shutout of the season. Benton, Cotto and senior Audrey Poulton (Charlestown, RI/Chariho Regional) each had two hits. For Springfield, freshman Sarah Pongratz (Winchester, MA/Winchester) yielded just the one run on 10 hits while walking three and posting zero strikeouts.

In the opener, Wheaton took the lead in extra innings before Springfield rallied for the victory. The Pride stranded four runners in scoring position during the first five innings, while the Lyons scored the only run of the game in that time on freshman Julie Murray's (Canton, MA/Canton) first collegiate home run, a solo shot leading off the third. The Pride countered in the sixth, as sophomore Jaimie Moran's (Manchester, CT/Manchester) two-out RBI single knotted the score.

Each team went down in order in the seventh, and freshman Rachel Merrick (Methuen, MA/Central Catholic) scored on an error in the eighth to give Wheaton a brief lead. The Lyons put runners on second and third with two down but were unable to score again, and Worrilow singled home the tying run in the bottom half. After a scoreless ninth for Wheaton, during which Hobocan was cut down at the plate on a bid to score on a fly ball, the Pride plated the winning run in the home portion on an error following a sacrifice bunt.

Six different Lyons had a hit, while senior Jodi Moynagh (Worcester, MA/Holy Name Central Catholic) suffered her first loss of the season in eight decisions after going eight-plus innings and yielding one earned run on seven hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Worrilow was 2-for-4 to pace Springfield, while junior southpaw Samantha Rhodes (Mendon, MA/Nipmuc Regional) went the route in the circle, allowing one earned run and striking out three.

Wheaton returns to NEWMAC play on Tuesday in a doubleheader at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that begins at 3:00 p.m.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 3/30/08.
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