Sydney Fleming Sets Career HR Mark as Softball Sweeps Bowdoin

Scores:    

Williams 11, Bowdoin 7

Williams 3, Bowdoin 1

Location:  Brunswick, ME

Records: Williams 14-6; Bowdoin 9-13

The Short Story: 

Game one was a wild one with the teams combining for eighteen runs in the final four innings.  The Ephs started the scoring in the third inning when first-year Lauren Davis lead off with a hit and came around to score on an Alysa DeQuiroz double.  After two were out, Justine Dunaway '27 blasted a double to center field to drive in two runs.  An inning later the Ephs made it 8-0.  Kaia Glickman '25 lead off with a walk, and later in the inning Syd Fleming '25, Katie Blanch '27 and Sidney Miller '26 all had RBI hits.  The Ephs batted around in the inning.

Bowdoin responded by scoring seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings . The big blow was a home run by Reilly Parga.  The Ephs didn't break however and Sydney Fleming '25 hit her record breaking 38th career home run in the top of the seventh to give the Ephs some insurance.  Sadie Leonard '25 pitched their 10th win of the year and struck out fourteen, including four of the last six Polar Bear batters.

Game two was a different story.  Williams had nine hits but could only muster three runs, the big hit a two run RBI hit by Aprill Medrano '28 in the 4th inning to allow the Ephs to take a 2-1 lead.  Elyse Chan '25 started the game and pitched one inning, her first time pitching in a game since last season after suffering an injury in January this year.  Katie Blanch pitched six complete, giving up no runs on just three hits.

Coach's Take

"Sydney Fleming is an elite power hitter and we're happy to have her on our side!  Congrats to her on the home run record, and congrats to our team for battling on a day when we were still fighting to put things together on offense. It's a team effort every time out and we will continue to demand more from ourselves as we move forward.  It was also great to have Elyse back on the mound and to get strong performances from our pitchers.  Katie Blanch finally got some run support and did her job, throwing six scoreless innings.  It was great to get out of Maine with a sweep today and we're looking forward to the rest of the NESCAC season and more," commented head coach Kris Herman

Game 1

How it Happened 

• The Ephs scored eight runs through four innings but couldn't keep the Polar Bears down.
   
• Five Williams hitters had multiple hit games, including Kayla Chang '25, Katie Blanch '27, Alysa DeQuiroz '26, Sidney Miller '26 and Justine Dunaway '27.
   
• Sadie Leonard pitched six innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits and striking out fourteen.  This was Sadie's tenth win and tenth double digit strikeout game.
   
• Sydney Fleming '25 hit a three run shot to put the game away in the top of the 7th and break the Williams Softball home run record held by Lexi Curt '18.

Game 2

• Bowdoin scored first in the bottom of the first inning with the speedy Anika Ewert reaching on a hit, stealing a base and scoring on a sac fly.
   
• Williams bested the Polar Bears on the scoreboard on a four hit inning in the 4th, highlighted by a two RBI single by Aprill Medrano '28.
   
• Sydney Fleming and Justine Dunaway both had two hits for Williams.  
   
• Elyse Chan '25 saw her first action of the season on the mound, giving up one run.  Katie Blanch '27 went the rest of the way for the win.