Simmons College Reeves, Caracciolo Lead Softball to 7-2 Win over SUNY Potsdam

CLERMONT, Fla. – Every hitter in the lineup recorded a hit and first year pitcher Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.) earned her first collegiate victory in a 7-2 Simmons College softball victory over State University of New York Potsdam this afternoon at the Spring Games at Hancock Park in Clermont, Fla. The Sharks improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Bears fall to 2-2.

SUNY Potsdam scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning, but that would be the last inning it would score in as Simmons put seven unanswered runs on the board for the remainder of the contest.

Senior second baseman Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.) was 1-4 with a double, a
walk and two runs batted in for the Sharks, while senior center fielder Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) finished 2-3 with an RBI, a walk and a run scored. First year third baseman Taylor LeBrun (Milford, Mass.) collected the first two hits of her collegiate career in three at-bats, while senior right fielder MacKenzie Hayman (Veazie, Maine) reached base three times, including her first collegiate hit and knocked in a run.

Reeves (1-0) yielded two runs in the first and settled down to throw scoreless ball the rest of the way, scattering eight hits and allowing three walks, while striking out eight batters in seven complete innings for Simmons.

Senior catcher Katie Marsman (Wantagh, N.Y.) and sophomore third baseman Lauren Brace (Moriah, N.Y.) each collected a pair of hits and drove in a run to lead the Bears. Senior second baseman Alexis Lerman (Dewitt, N.Y.) also had two hits, including a double.

Sophomore Meghan Dougherty (East Greenbush, N.Y.) (0-2) suffered the loss for Potsdam, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits and a pair of walks, while fanning three batters.

Reeves opened the top of the second by reaching on an error and Hayman followed with a single to right center. Junior left fielder Emma D'Arpino (Johnston, R.I.) reached on a bunt single and Reeves scored on an errant throw on the play to cut the Sharks' deficit to 2-1. Caracciolo came through with a two-run double to right center to give Simmons the lead for good at 3-2.

White drew a leadoff walk in the third and first year first baseman Dominique Ortiz (Lawrence, Mass.) followed with her first collegiate hit on a single to left. Both runners later scored on an error to give the Sharks a 5-2 lead. The Sharks added single runs in the fifth and sixth to take a 7-2 advantage. Reeves doubled to right center for her first career hit in the fifth and scored on a Hayman ground out. Junior shortstop Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.) worked a one-out walk and later scored on a White single up the middle.

The Bears cracked the scoring column first in the bottom of the opening frame. Junior shortstop Jordan Ott (Hilton, N.Y.) walked to lead off the inning and came around to score on a two-out double to right field off the bat of Marsman. Brace followed with an RBI single through the left side to plate Marsman and give Potsdam a 2-0 lead.

Simmons returns to action tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. when it takes on Misericordia University at Foundation Academy Field in Winter Garden, Fla., while the Bears play Austin College tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. in Clermont, Fla.