Monson Pulls Away From McCann For Win
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The McCann Tech softball team showed some improvement against Monson on Friday, but the Hornets came up a couple of innings short of playing a complete game, resulting in a 7-1 home loss to the Mustangs.Senior starter Erika Ziemba pitched one of her best games of the season, matching Monson hurler Rachel Gordon inning for inning. The visitors held a 1-0 advantage going into the top of the sixth frame when things started to unravel for McCann (1-6). The Mustangs (2-5) started with a single and took advantage of two Hornets' errors to follow to plate a pair of runs. They then broke the game open by scoring four more times in the seventh inning.
Sophomore shortstop Jessica Sunn, who led McCann's offense by going 2-for-4, answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late against Gordon, who allowed one unearned run on just three hits to pick up the win. Gordon struck out nine but also walked nine to give the Hornets' several base runners on the day.
"If a game lasted five innings, we would be golden," McCann head coach Robin Finnegan said. "We played five innings of great defensive softball, only to lose it in the sixth. Erika, once again, pitched a good game, only allowing 2 walks. Unfortunately, the defense couldn't hold up its end of the bargain. Offensively, Gordon shut us down, and we could not take advantage of the nine walks she allowed."
Ziemba allowed just two earned runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two to take the loss. Kailey Carr led Monson with three hits and one RBI.
The Hornets face another talented pitcher and a good overall team in Ware on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. in North Adams.