BEVERLY, Mass. — Kyla Story blasted a game-tying three-run homer in the sixth inning, and Mia Mitchell reached on a walk-off error in the eighth to lift No. 1 Endicott to a 4-3 comeback win over No. 6 Roger Williams in the Conference of New England (CNE) Softball Tournament on Wednesday afternoon.
Roger Williams held a 3-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth, but Endicott (22-13, 14-4 CNE) rallied late and capitalized on a pair of Hawk defensive miscues to escape with the victory and advance in the top bracket of the tournament.
The Hawks were led offensively by Vianna Chamberlin, who went 3-for-4 with three singles, and third baseman Christina Denovellis, who added two hits. Caroline Thomas drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, while Shannon Starratt doubled and scored.
Endicott collected 11 hits as a team, with catcher Dani Lear going 2-for-3 and Romero adding a 3-for-4 performance with two runs scored. Mitchell finished 2-for-5 with a triple and reached on the crucial error in the eighth that decided the game.
Roger Williams struck first in the top of the fourth. Denovellis singled, and Thomas walked to put runners on first and second. After a base hit by Chamberlin loaded the bases, a two-out ground ball by Kiera Quadros resulted in a fielding error at shortstop, allowing both pinch runner McKenzie Foley and Thomas to score for a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, Starratt walked and advanced on a fielding error by the pitcher. Denovellis reached on a fielder's choice to move Starratt to third. Thomas followed with a sacrifice fly to second base, bringing home Starratt to give the Hawks a 3-0 cushion.
Endicott responded in the bottom of the sixth. Romero and Lear hit back-to-back singles before Story launched a three-run home run to left field, tying the game at 3-3.
After a scoreless seventh, the game moved to extra innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Romero singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Caroline Cummings. A pair of sacrifice bunts moved Cummings to third with two outs. Mitchell then hit a grounder to shortstop that was misplayed, allowing Cummings to score the winning run on the error.
Analise Grady (7-4) earned the win in relief for Endicott, allowing just one hit and no earned runs over four innings. Ava Fairbanks (3-3) was charged with the loss, surrendering one unearned run in two innings of work.
Roger Williams (23-17, 11-7 CNE) will face No. 6 Wentworth tomorrow at 1:30 pm at No. 2 Nichols in an elimination game. The winner will face either No. 5 Suffolk or No. 2 Nichols in the elimination bracket semifinal.
