Drury Loses Back-and-Forth Game to PHS
NORTH ADAMS -- Senior Kendra Hinkell did all she could do, blasting a home run over the center-field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Drury softball team's rally came up just short in an 8-6 loss to Pittsfield in the Blue Devils' season opener.The Generals jumped out to leads of 2-0 and 4-3 but each time Drury came back to even the score. Pittsfield then broke out for four runs in the top of the seventh frame, and Mary Ann Maroni's club couldn't get the last couple of runs they needed to tie the game.
Junior hurler Lyndsey DeGrenier allowed just two earned runs in taking her first loss of the season. The Devils starter struck out four batters but struggled a bit with her control, conceding nine walks over seven innings of work. Each team had six hits, while Drury made one more error than Pittsfield on the day.
Sophomore Amanda Ramsdell led the Blue Devils' offense with two hits and one run scored.
"Although this was a loss, and a close one at that, there were several bright spots," Maroni said. "Amanda Ramsdell's first varsity start was a good one, going 2 for 4 and making an outstanding catch in the field. Freshman Jessica Sunn played like a veteran and, of course, Kendra Hinkell's home run in the bottom of the seventh inning was a monster of a hit. The team showed poise and tenacity to come back in the bottom of the seventh."
The Blue Devils next play at Mount Anthony at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon.