Cecil College softball defeated the Skipjacks of Chesapeake College in two games by scores of 3-1 and 6-5, handing them their first losses in the conference and region division. The Seahawks improve to 15-5 overall, 10-2 in the conference, and 4-4 NJCAA Region XX DII. Cecil College maintained their third ranking in MD JUCO and fifth in NJCAA Region XX DII.
The Seahawks and Skipjacks started game #1 competitively, holding eachother scoreless through the first three complete innings. The Skipjacks recorded two hits compared to the Seahawks' one hit in the opening innings of the contest.
Sophomore catcher Carly White recorded a single in the bottom of the fourth and advanced to second on a passed ball. Olivia Martin crushed her sixth home run of the year over the centerfield fence to bring in Cecil's first two runs of the game. Martin leads the team in home runs and ranks fourth in MD JUCO in home runs this season.
The Seahawks' defense allowed the Skipjack's only run of the game in the top of the fifth inning as a runner from third, off a previous triple, crossed the plate as a result of a passed ball.
Cecil College would score again in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI-single from pitcher Emily Phillips, bringing Carly White home again. Pitcher Emily Phillips retired the first three batters in the top of the seventh to end game #1 in favor of the Seahawks. Phillips picked up the win after completing seven innings with eight strike outs, and giving up one run on five hits.
The Seahawks took a quick lead in game #2 when freshman third basemen Kelly Porte hit her first career homerun to put Cecil College up 1-0 at the end of the first. Shannon Shivery and Aleshia Shires lead off the second inning with singles. Paige Yedinak reached first on a Skipjacks' error, bringing Shannon Shivery home. Sara Kauffman hit an RBI-single to right field that helped Aleshia Shires cross the plate before the end of the inning. Cecil College scored their fourth run in the bottom of the third when Carly White homered to left field, tallying the team's sixteenth home run of the season.
After Cecil scored two more runs in the fifth, the Skipjacks tried to rally with three runs of their own in top of the sixth to make the score 6-4 in favor of the Seahawks. After walking the first batter in the top of the seventh, Emily Phillips entered the game for Shannon Shivery. Cecil College gave up one run but was able to get out of the inning to complete the sweep of the Skipjacks.
Shannon Shivery picked up the victory for the Seahawks after pitching six innings while giving up five runs on eight hits, and stricking out three. Emily Phillips returned for the save in game #2.
Cecil College softball returns to action at home on Friday, April 20 for another conferecen and region division match up against the Hawks of College of Southern Maryland. The first pitch of the double-header is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.