CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – After dropping the first game against nationally ranked No. 25 MIT (12-4), Simmons softball (5-16) jumped out in front of the Engineers putting up five runs in the third. However, the Engineers responded with seven unanswered runs over the next three innings to take Wednesday afternoon's doubleheader.
Making her 11th start of the season, sophomore right-hander Piper Kinney held the Engineers scoreless through the first three innings, while the offense provided the early run support.
Dangerous waters began to develop in the top of the third. Junior centerfielder Raya Anderson reached on a one-out bunt then scampered to second on a base hit into centerfield off the bat of sophomore Emily Deleault.
Fellow sophomore Ally Hyde kept the offense moving with a single just out of the reach of the shortstop to bring home Anderson from second for the game's first run. After senior Jordyn Rubin lined a single back where it came from to load the bases, junior Leah Berdeen ripped a double down the left field line to plate both Deleault and Hyde to put the Sharks up 3-0 and knock the MIT starter from the game.
A new pitcher did not stop the Sharks offense. Sophomore Trinity Payne increased the lead to four with an RBI single of her own to bring home Rubin. With momentum on their side, the Sharks were able to push across another run due to small ball. Payne got her in the run down long enough to allow Berdeen to score the fifth run of the game.
In the home half of the third, Anderson helped Kinney evade a one-out jam, throwing out Rylie Spiegel at the plate for the second out to keep the Engineers off the board. Kinney managed to get Kennedy Adkison to fly out to right field to end the frame.
But it did not take long for the Engineers to design a comeback. They managed to push across pair of runs in the home half of the third, then tie up the ballgame with three runs in the fifth, before manufacturing two runs in the sixth to take the lead.
GAME 1: No. 25 MIT 2, Simmons 0
Sophomore Ally Hyde toed the rubber in the first game of the twin-bill. The west coast native was successful at keeping the Engineers off balance. But the Engineers were able to capitalize on a Sharks error in the field in the bottom of the fourth. And that was all they needed.
Tossing a complete-game game, Hyde allowed just two unearned runs, while scattering six five hits against the Engineers.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- Junior Leah Berdeen went 1-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBI in game two.
- Sophomore Trinity Payne was 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk, RBI and run scored, while tossed two innings of relieve allowing just one unearned run.
- Sophomore Ally Hyde tossed a complete game, while scattering five hits and allowing just two unearned runs. Hyde went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in game two.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to diamond on Saturday, April 13 when they return to GNAC play traveling to Anna Maria College. First pitch at 12 p.m.