Taconic Softball Opens with Win over Mohawk

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Cheyanne Goddard went the distance in the circle and helped her cause with a 2-for-2 day at the plate on Tuesday as the Taconic softball team beat Mohawk Trail, 5-2, in the Thunder’s season opener.

 

Goddard, who pitched just 11 innings a year ago, struck out seven, walked just one and scattered five hits in the complete-game win.

 

“It was really just us coming together as a whole,” Goddard said. “We haven’t been able to play outside much.

 

“It was really a different experience to be on the mound, but I got in a groove and it showed.”

 

Her offense gave her a lift early when Izabella Hadsell delivered an RBI single to give Taconic a 1-0 lead in the first.

 

And her defense pitched in one inning later when left fielder Jianna Gilmore-Kruger threw out a runner at third for the second out of the inning to help keep Mohawk Trail off the board.

 

In the bottom of the second, Ella Stodden drove in a run with a line drive to right field to make it 2-0.

 

The visitors used back-to-back triples in the top of the third to tie the game, 2-2.

 

But Taconic took back the lead in the bottom of the frame.

 

Maddie Harrington dropped a single into right center to drive in a pair of runs and give the Thunder the lead for good.

 

Goddard picked up her fifth strikeout in the top of the fourth to preserve that lead, and Taconic generated an unearned run in the fourth when a runner came home on Izabella Hadsell’s dribbler to the right side.

 

In the top of the seventh, Lyniah Hadsell made back-to-back plays at shortstop, and second baseman Kylie Duhamel grabbed a pop fly to end it.

 

Taconic (1-0) is home on Wednesday against Greenfield.