COURTNEY REBELLO LEADS MUSTANGS TO SPLIT TWIN BILL

March 21, 2010 (Newton Centre, MA) – The Mount Ida College and Suffolk University softball teams each earned a come-from-behind victory to salvage a doubleheader split this afternoon at the Mount Ida Softball Field. The Mustangs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn an 8-6 win in the first game, while the Rams scored three times in the top of the seventh to edge their hosts, 6-5, in the nightcap.

Mount Ida (6-3, 1-1 GNAC) freshman catcher Cortney Rebello (N. Dartmouth, MA/Greater New Bedford) paced the offensive attack for the Mustangs with a 4-for-8 performance from the plate with four runs driven in and two runs scored. Classmate third basemen Danielle Mitchell (Whitman, MA/Whitman-Hanson) went a combined 2-for-6 with three RBI, while freshman second baseman Tiffany Hamann (Newton, MA/Newton North) crossed the plate three times.

Suffolk (2-13, 2-2) jumped out to an early advantage in the first game, scoring three runs in its first at-bat. Junior shortstop Monica Cioffi (East Boston, MA) started the game by beating out a slow-roller down the third baseline and advancing to third on an errant throw. Sophomore second baseman Cail Loura (Farmington, CT) placed a bunt down the third baseline to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Clara Conklin (Haverhill, MA) capped the scoring with a one-out, two-run homer over the left field fence.

The Mustangs were finally able to figure out sophomore starter Carissa Roche (Swampscott, MA) in the bottom of the third, erupting for four runs to forge a four-all tie. Sophomore centerfielder Tracy Koukol (N. Attletboro, MA) was able to work a walk to turn over the line up for the top of the order. Freshman pitcher Devan Meeker (Bantam, CT) and Hamann each registered a single to load the bases for Rebello. The freshman catcher put the hosts on the board with a single down the left field line to drive in Koukol. Mount Ida scored its second run on a wild pitch, while Mitchell delivered a two-out, two-run single to left field to knot the game at four.

The Rams used some two-out magic in the fifth to regain their advantage. Graduate-student first baseman Ashley Gaboriault (Worcester, MA) laced a two-out single just over the outstretched glove of the Mustangs' shortstop to put the visitors back on top, 6-4. The hosts would chip into their deficit in the bottom of the frame with an RBI double by Rebello.

Mount Ida strung together a pair of singles to open the seventh and chase Roche. Sophomore Elizabeth Galvin (Medway, MA) entered the contest to try to put out the Mustangs potential rally, but a passed ball put runners on second and third. Meeker lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield, while Hamann singled to second to put runners at the corners with two outs. Rebello delivered the key hit once again, drilling a double into the right-center gap to score a pair and give the hosts their first lead, 8-6.

Meeker retired the side in order for the third time in the top of the seventh to seal the conference victory. Meeker earned the complete-game win, giving up six runs on eight hits, while striking out four. Roche was the hard-luck loser, surrendering seven runs—six earned—on nine hits, while striking out two.

In the nightcap, Mount Ida cracked open the scoring column in the third frame. Sophomore shortstop Erica Belliveau (Tewsbury, MA) reached on a fielder's choice to drive in the first run of the ballgame, while Mitchell followed suit with an RBI-double to right-centerfield. The Mustangs used aggressive base running to score their final two runs of the frame, scoring on a wild pitch and a double steal.

Suffolk responded in the top of the fourth, when Conklin delivered her second two-run homer of the afternoon. The sophomore from Haverhill guided the ball around the foul pole to cut the Rams deficit to 4-2. Mount Ida stretched its advantage to 5-2 in the bottom of the sixth, when the Mustangs capitalized on a fielding error by a Suffolk outfielder.

The Rams would not go quietly in the top the seventh as the first two batters reached base. The Mustangs summoned Meeker from right field to try to close out the contest, relieving freshman Denise Picard (Winooski, VT) after six innings-plus of work. Suffolk loaded the bases with a single, but Meeker was able to induce a fielder's choice to cut a run down at the plate. Loura hit a frozen rope into right-center field for a bases-clearing, three-run triple to tie the game at five. Loura continued to haunt the hosts, scoring the decisive run on a wild pitch with two outs.

In the pitching circle, sophomore Brooke Hirschfeld (Winchester, MA) earned the complete-game victory, allowing just five hits on four earned runs, while registering five strikeouts. Picard tossed six innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, while punching out a pair.

Mount Ida returns to action at 3 p.m. on March 23, when the Mustangs travel to Bay Path for a non-conference doubleheader.