Mounties Get Even With Blue Devils
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The first time the Drury and Mount Greylock softball teams met this year, the Blue Devils won a back-and-forth game full of offensive fireworks. Heather Tomkowicz made sure she was the deciding factor in the rematch, however, striking out 15 batters without a walk to lead the Mounties to a 4-0 win at Francis Millard Field on Friday.The sophomore hurler was just too much for the Blue Devils (10-6) too handle, giving up just three hits on the day to earn her fifth shutout of the year. Like Greylock (13-5), Tomkowicz seems to be getting stronger as the season goes along. She has pitched three shutouts in the past four games, helping her team win four out of its last five contests. Since losing to Drury 7-5 on April 23, the Mounties have gone 8-3 over the past month. The Blue Devils, meanwhile, are just 3-5 during that same stretch.
"Heather had a stellar day on the mound today," Greylock head coach June Blake said. "She did a great job setting up batters and constantly keeping them off balance."
Drury starter Cat Record also had a solid outing, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. She finished with six strikeouts and one walk as her record fell to 10-6 this season. Ironically, it was Tomkowicz who got things going for her team offensively in the top of the third inning. She led off with a single and then moved to second base on an infield hit by senior Michael DiNicola. Both runners advanced on a groundout by Sierra Holland, setting the stage for senior Caitie Benoit's sacrifice fly to center field.
The Mounties added another run in the fourth inning when sophomore Kendal Frye doubled with one out and later scored on a RBI single by freshman Miranda Voller. The Devils' defense made a nice play to gun down Voller, though, who was trying to stretch her single into a double. Record then got a strikeout to end the inning before leading off the bottom of the frame with a single of her own. Unfortunately for Drury, though, its next three batters were all retired by Tomkowicz, ruining the Blue Devils' best chance to score.
"Tomkowicz did a fine job of shutting us down," Drury head coach Mary Ann Maroni said. "I though we played uninspired ball today. Even that razzle-dazzle play to end the fourth inning failed to get us going."
Greylock added two more runs in the fifth inning, taking advantage of two errors, a walk and a sacrifice. Tomkowicz, Frye and DiNicola each had two hits for the Mounties, who next host Pittsfield at 4:15 p.m. on Monday.
The Blue Devils also return to action on Monday, when they host Taconic at 6:30 p.m.