Bats are hot, defense struggles in losses to Mount Ida

Newton, Mass. - The Wheelock softball team carried a one run lead into the bottom of the sixth inning in game one of a double-header with Mount Ida College, but the Mustangs responded with three runs to pull off the 4-2 win Tuesday afternoon. In game two, the Wildcats battled back from deficits of four runs and two runs before falling in the bottom of the seventh, 12-11.

The Mustangs jumped out quickly in the bottom of the first inning scoring one run on two hits. The Wildcats answered later in the top of the fourth on a two run, three hit inning with a costly error by Mount Ida.  A lead-off single and a stolen base put a runner on second with one out.  A single to right center by Nicole Perullo (Revere, MA) crossed the visitors first run knotting the score at 1-1.  Another single by junior Elise Ordile (Waltham, MA) and an error scored Perullo giving the Wildcats the 2-1 advantage.

Two errors in the bottom of the sixth inning cost the Wildcats three runs and the lead. A single by Kwasek and a Belliveau fielder's choice put two on with one down.  Senior Tiffany Kowarsky (Springfield, MA) singled and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder scoring Kwasek from third and Belliveau from second, both unearned, making it 3-2 Mustangs.  A Maddy Anderson (Weymouth, MA) single scored Kowarsky for the fourth and final run of the game giving the hosts the 4-2 victory in game one.

Senior hurler Stacy Seidner (Pembroke, NH) gave up eight hits and four runs, only one of which was earned, with a strikeout for the Wildcats.

Game two was pretty wild with Wheelock holding a 4-3 lead after three innings in a very sloppy opening for both teams that featured a homerun by Kwasek, her fifth of the season.  Both squads exchanged big innings with the Mustangs putting up a five spot in the bottom of the fourth on a five hit, five run set with one Wildcat error. 

The Wildcats answered in the top of the fifth inning on a four run, two hit inning with another error by Mount Ida.   Two lead off walks put two on with no one out giving coach Katie Zuman no choice but to pull her back-up pitcher Erin Dufficy (Shelton, CT) who started the game, and put Kwasek back in to finish it off.  It wasn't as easy as they thought while Kwasek surrendered four runs on a single to right center and a single to center making it 8-8.

Mount Ida regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth with one run on two hits and an error.  Freshman Tracy Koukol (North Attleboro, MA) advanced to second on a throwing error to first by the pitcher.  Junior Katie Lorenco (Mattapoisett, MA) smoked a RBI single into center field scoring Koukol taking the 9-8 advantage.

After a silent top of the sixth by the visitors, the Mustangs tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the inning on a three hit, two run set.  A lead off double by Kwasek, who eventually advanced to third on an error, got the inning going.  A sacrifice fly by Dufficy plated Kwasek making it 10-8 Mustangs.  An Anderson single and a senior Lindsay Schwartz (Stoughton, MA) walk put to one with two down.  Koukol singled immediately following driving in Anderson making it 11-8 after six. 

Just when it looked like the Mustangs had things locked up for a game two win, the Wildcats tied it with a three run, three hit frame with two errors.  An error to open the inning put a runner on second followed by a single put two on with two out.  A costly throwing error by the shortstop plated two runs for the visitors cutting the lead to one at 10-11.  A double to right field by Ordile tied the score at 11-11 going into the bottom of the last inning with one more chance for the Mustangs to avoid extra frames.

Mount Ida strung together a couple of hits in the bottom of the seventh to break the tie and take game two.

Ordile enjoyed a five hit day, going 2-4 in game one and 3-4 in game two with a total of three RBI's. Freshmen Nicole Perullo and Sarah Negron (Whitinsville, MA) also enjoyed multi-hit games, with Negron knocking in a pair of ribbies.

Wheelock will next travel to Anna Maria College on Thursday for a single game, beginning at 4:30.