Game One Box ScoreDanbury, Conn. - April 10, 2011 - The Springfield College softball team battled to a split on the road against Western Connecticut in head coach Julie Perrelli's return to her alma mater on Sunday afternoon. Springfield dropped the first game, 5-2, before blanking the hosts, 6-0, in the nightcap.
With the non-conference split, Springfield is now 18-11 on the year. In her second season with the Pride, Perrelli led Springfield against a team in which she was once a three-year letter winner and team captain.
In the opener, junior righty Magen Dargon improved to 7-3 after throwing a complete-game seven hitter for the hosts. She allowed two earned runs while striking out nine and walking just one, including recording strike outs on seven of the Pride's final eight hitters.
After being deadlocked at 2-2 through the first three and one half innings, the Colonials broke open for three runs in the bottom the fourth frame. Kristen Mezzanotte and Melissa Fracker laced back-to-back doubles. Fracker's went to the left center wall and plated both Anna Levesque, who collected a pinch-hit single earlier, and Mezzanotte.
Jen Joseph suffered the loss for Springfield and is now 8-3 on the year. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking one.
Tess Gagliano led the Pride by going 3-for-3. Kelly Blake went 2-for-3 and gave Springfield an early 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the opening frame. It was her fourth round tripper of the season.
In the nightcap, Springfield pounded out 12 hits and chased starter and loser Brittany Connors after three and one third innings. Connors allowed eight hits and three runs while striking out three and walking two. Freshman Stephanie Moss came on in relief and allowed three runs on four hits. She struck out four and walked as many.
The Pride's offense was led by four hitters that collected a pair of hits. Blake went 2-for-5 and drove in two runs, while Melanie Scuderi went 1-for-4 and drove in two for the winners.
Scuderi started off the scoring for Springfield with a two-run single in the third, while and RBI single by Blake in the third plated teammate Kasey Kelly. In the fifth, the patient eye of Gagliano forced in a run as she drew a walk with the bases juiced, and Springfield added two more in the seventh on an RBI triple by Kelly and another RBI single by Blake.
Julie Perrelli enters her fourth season at the helm of the Springfield College softball program and as an assistant professor of physical education. In her first three seasons in the dugout for the Pride, Perelli has guided Springfield to two NEWMAC Championship title games. Read more.
