CLAREMONT- The fifth-seeded Stevens Cardinals hosted the twelfth-seeded Fall Mountain Wildcats in the opening round of the NHIAA D-III softball playoffs on Wednesday evening. The visiting Wildcats gave all they had, and in a close back-and-forth game, Stevens was able to come away on top, 5-4, and will move on to the quarterfinals on Saturday in Berlin.
Fall Mountain got on the board first. In the top of the first inning, Allie Stoddart knocked in Amber Beliveau with a single up the middle. Stevens responded with three runs in the bottom-half. Kate Chambers knocked in Jenna Pond with a base-knock, and then Alexis Ford hit dribbler down the third base line, scoring two as the throw home sailed over the catcher’s head. After one, Stevens led 3-1.
After a scoreless top-half of the second, Stevens’ Makayla Maccioli hit an inside-the-park homer to center to give the Cardinals a 4-1 advantage.
In the top of the third, Fall Mountain’s Beliveau reached on a single, stole second, reached third on an overthrow, and crossed the plate a couple pitches later on a passed-ball for her second score of the game, chipping into the Cardinal-lead, 4-2. In the bottom of the third, with two outs and a runner on third, Ford hit a grounder to short. Nicole Limoges fielded the ball cleanly and threw over to first to get out of the inning unscathed, saving the run.
After a 1,2,3 top-half of the fourth, the Wildcats were faced with Cardinals on second and third with only one out. Maccioli would fly out to right, and after hesitation on the base-paths, the runner would be thrown out trying to tag home, as a double play got Fall Mountain out of the jam and kept them in the ballgame.
In the bottom of the fifth, Stevens was able to score their fifth run off an odd bounce. With two outs and Rhoades on first, a Chambers ground ball deflected off the Wildcats’ first baseman’s glove, then hit of the leg of Rhoades heading for second, and ricocheted into the outfield. Rhoades was able to round the bases and come home to score.
In the top of the sixth, Fall Mountain scored twice more on RBI-singles to cut the lead to 5-4. They would stall, however, after a runner was caught stealing and a fly out. After holding Stevens scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the Wildcats would be retired in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.
On the game, Fall Mountain head coach, Molly McManus, said, “Rough start… but we came together towards the end… it was just a little too late. Our batting definitely picked up, we started getting hits.”
On the win Wednesday, Cardinals head coach, Missy Nichols, said, “We had a few nerves today to start but they settled down and finished strong. Very proud of these girls with their focus, composure and ability to put the ball in play.”
Stevens’ Madison Lapsley got the win on the mound, pitching a complete-game, while striking out four, and allowing one walk and six hits. “We just played FM and this is third time this season they have seen Madison pitching,” said Nichols. “They put the ball in play, making us play defense. We made a few mistakes but didn’t panic.”
Fall Mountain ends their season at 8-10 after starting out the year 1-5 over their first six games. “It was a slow start at the beginning [of the year] with school trips and different things… it definitely impacted us,” said McManus post-game.
Stevens moves on to the quarterfinals on Saturday, as they will travel to Berlin for a 4 p.m. start time. “This was a good game for us going into the tournament,” said Nichols. “If we bring our bats Saturday, we can compete with anyone.” Berlin is the No. 4 seed and beat Prospect Mountain 8-1 in the first round on Wednesday.
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