JOHNSON, VT. – The Johnson State College softball team dropped a pair of North Atlantic Conference (NAC) games to Thomas College 7-2 and 6-5 on Sunday afternoon.
The Badgers go to 2-18 (1-9 NAC) while the Terriers move to 11-21 (7-5 NAC).
Thomas 7, Johnson 2
The Badgers got on the board in the bottom of the first when Abby McRae (Milton, Vt.) scored on an error to give Johnson the 1-0 lead. The Badgers were unable to cause any more damage, as Thomas pitcher Sydney LeBourveau was able to get out of a jam with two runners on and one out.
Thomas answered back in the top of the second when Katie Taylor drove in two runs on a triple to center field, giving the Terriers a 2-1 lead.
The Terriers increased their lead in the third on a Madison Bentz RBI double.
Johnson answered back in the bottom of the inning on a Cecilla Chamul (East Concord, Vt.) RBI double to cut the Thomas lead back down to one.
Kayla Bess extended the Terrier lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth on an RBI double. The Terriers added two more in the sixth to take the 7-2 victory.
LeBourveau allowed two runs (one earned) on nine hits and three walks, while striking out four in seven innings to earn the win. Kaitlyn Woodward (White River, Vt.) was tagged with the loss, allowing seven runs (two earned) on nine hits, no walks and three strikeouts.
Thomas 6, Johnson 5 (8 Innings)
Thomas struck quickly in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Courtney Veilleux.
The offense for both sides was quiet until the top of the fourth inning when the Terriers tacked on four more runs to build a 5-0 lead. Bess came home on Meghan Stover's RBI single to start the scoring in the inning. Stover then scored on an RBI single to right field from Katie Taylor. Taylor then stole second base allowing Lauren Guppy to score from third on the throw. Veilleux hit an RBI single to left field to cap off the scoring in the frame.
Johnson was able to battle back in the home half of the inning with Hannah Leroux (Albany, Vt.) and Woodward scoring on a Thomas error to cut the lead to 5-2.
The Badgers rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Anna Bingham's (Island Pond, Vt.) double down the left field line brought home McRae before a two RBI single from Chamul tied the game at five.
Thomas was able to bring the placed runner around to score on a wild pitch in the top of the eighth to give the Terriers the lead, 6-5. Leroux was able to work out of a two out jam with runners at second and third after getting Lexi Colpack to fly out to first base to hold the Thomas lead to one.
Johnson was unable to answer in the home frame of the eighth and fell 6-5.
Chelsea Hale allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts to earn the win. Haley Littlefield picked up the save after pitching a scoreless eighth. Leroux was given the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits, three walks, and two strikeouts over eight innings.
Next Up
Johnson will travel to Lyndon State for a NAC doubleheader on Monday, May 1st with games starting at 3:30 p.m.