Ephs Split Doubleheader at Colby

Scores:    

Williams 8, Colby 5

Williams 2, Colbyt 6

Location: Waterville, ME 

Records: Williams 11-8; Colby 11-11

The Short Story: 

The Ephs faced off against the Colby Mules in a doubleheader today in Waterville, Maine. The first game saw Williams pull ahead to post an 8-5 victory. Led by effective batting from Kelly McGuigan and Sydney Flemming, Williams made key plays and established a lead they managed to sustain throughout the entire game despite a strong challenge from Colby. Justine Dunaway and Tayler Wise also delivered clutch hits that extended their lead at crucial points in the game. However, in Game 2, Colby's strong offensive moves and solid pitching turned the tables, resulting in a 6-2 win in their favor.

Coach's Take: 

"We battled all day but didn't play well overall. Credit to Colby for taking advantage and keeping the pressure on." - said Eph head coach Kris Herman

Game 1

How it Happened 

• Kelly McGuigan and Sydney Fleming kicked off the Eph's scoring in the first inning. Following McGuigan's single to center field, Fleming singled to right field allowing McGuigan to advance to second. Justine Dunaway then singled, moving McGuigan to third and Fleming to second. Ronni Ramos hit into a fielder's choice, leveraging Colby's defensive mistakes to reach first and then advance to second. Fleming and McGuigan capitalized on this error by Colby's shortstop and put the Ephs' first runs on the scoreboard. 

• The Ephs continued to generate momentum on offense, driving in three more runs in the second inning. With Tayler Wise on first, Kelly McGuigan hit another single to center field, pushing Wise to second. Sydney Fleming followed suit, driving a single to center and advancing McGuigan to second while Wise took third. Justine Dunaway stepped up to bat and smashed a double, clearing the bases with a 3-RBI hit that saw Wise, McGuigan, and Fleming cross the plate. 

• Sadie Leonard started the Eph's defense off strong, pitching four scoreless innings. 

• Natalie Carter relieved Leonard in the fifth inning but faced defensive challenges as the opposing team aggressively utilized a series of hits and smart plays, tallying four runs. 

• With the game separated by only one run in the top of the 7th inning, the Ephs extended their lead by 3. The scoring began with Colby's pitcher walking Justine Dunaway, who was replaced with pinch runner Louisa Coughlin. Coughlin scored on Sydney Miller's clutch RBI single to right field. Alysa DeQuiroz kept the scoring alive with a single, setting the stage for Taylor Wise, who singled to right field and drove DeQuiroz and Miller home, pushing the Ephs lead 8-4. 

• Katie Blanch came in to relieve Natalie Carter in the bottom of the 7th inning. Blanch managed to hold the Mules to just one run in the inning, and despite their aggressive baserunning and timely hitting, the Mules could not catch up to the Ephs. 

Game 2

How it Happened 

• Justine Dunaway scored the first run for the Ephs in the second inning. After getting hit by a pitch and advancing to first, Dunaway capitalized on Sydney Millers' groundout and moved to second. Natalie Carter hit a timely RBI single that drove Dunaway home. 

• Katie Blanch pitched all six innings for the Ephs. Despite Blanch's efforts to stem the tide, Colby's offense escalated the pressure. 

• The Mules' scoring began in the second inning, starting with consecutive singles that quickly filled the bases. These hits were followed by an unearned run on an error. Momentum built for the opposing team after a Colby batter hit a two-RBI single to center field, making the score 3-1. 

• The Mules scored two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning after a series of singles and a two-RBI double to left field. 

• The Ephs scored their second run in the top of the 5th inning. Alysa DeQuiroz hit a solid double to right field. Then Tayler Wise stepped up and delivered a single to center field, driving DeQuiroz home. 

• The Mules' final run came at the bottom of the 5th inning, after the Mules' capitalized on defensive errors with strategic base running, the sequence culminated into a run on a groundout.