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Box Score 2 MEDFORD, MASS – In two superbly pitched games by Eph first year Sadie Leonard, the Williams College Softball team (21-15/14-5 NESCAC) faced Trinity College (13-20/NESCAC 8-10) in the NESCAC quarterfinals for a second year in a row, narrowly winning 1-0. They then went on to defeat Bates College (16-17-1/7-12 NESCAC) in another close game, winning 2-1. Leonard pitched 14 innings and struck out 28 batters today.
Sadie Leonard delivered a remarkable performance in the first game, recording a total of sixteen strikeouts against Trinity College and allowing just four hits. The Ephs' only run of the game came in the first inning when Sidney Miller singled through the right side, Sydney Fleming walked, and Kelly McGuigan singled up the middle, giving Miller the chance to score. The Ephs continued to hit well, with three hits in the fifth inning and one in the sixth. Though they didn't score again in the game, they advanced to semifinals with the narrow 1-0 win.
"Bend, not break," said Eph head coach Kris Herman after the first game. "Sadie was amazing and her team backed her up. We hit the ball better than the scoreboard showed and are excited to play again in a few hours."
At 5 o'clock, the Ephs next went up against Bates College. Leonard pitched again, and just as powerfully in this game as the first, with twelve strikeouts. The Ephs' first run came in the first inning when McGuigan reached on a fielder's choice and Fleming doubled to left center to drive her in.
The Bobcats quickly responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, to tiethe game at 1. That score was quickly disrupted when Adhya Tandon homered to left field in the top of the second. Neither team scored again, and the Ephs secured a 2-1 victory.
"It was a very similar game," said coach Herman. "Sadie battled this afternoon after having to wait a long time and pitch in the heat. Senior Adhya Tandon hit her first collegiate home run, and that was the game winner. Credit Bates for doing a great job, too. It was an all around team effort and we are all excited to see where we go from here."
Next, the Ephs face Tufts University in a NESCAC Championship game tomorrow morning at Tufts at 11 A.M.
