McHugh Blast Helps Cougars To Season-Ending Split

Recap, photo courtesy of Clark University

Boston, Mass. – Kayleigh McHugh (Pepperrell, Mass.) blasted a three-run homerun in the seventh inning, securing a season-ending split of a New England Women's And Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) softball doubleheader between Clark University and Emerson College on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions won the first game in extra innings, escaping with a 5-4 win in nine innings before Brenna Foley (Charlton, Mass.) twirled a complete game shutout in the 7-0 Cougar win in the nightcap.
The split for Clark wraps up their 2016 season at 13-25 – an 11-game improvement over their win total from a season ago.

Game 1: Emerson College 5, Clark University 4 (9 innings)
Emerson scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning to take the opening game in extra innings.

Clark held a 2-0 lead after Rachel Kraytenberg (Londonderry, N.H.) drove in a run in the first on a
fielder's choice and another in the third on a single to right.

The Lions answered back in the bottom of the sixth to even the score on an unearned run and a sacrifice fly.

It looked as if the Cougars were in the driver's seat after the top of the eighth when Lauren Mackey (Dublin, N.H.) doubled home Alyssa Wright (Manchester, N.H.) and Anjelica Gonzalez (Merrimack, N.H.) doubled bringing home Mackey, giving the Scarlet and White a 4-2 lead.

Emerson wound up evening the score on an Amanda Horton RBI double and a Kodie Cash sacrifice fly in the eighth, paving the way for their game-winning run in the ninth.

Sami West (Gonic, N.H.) took the loss for the Scarlet and White, going eight plus innings and allowing six hits and five runs – only two of which were earned.

Mackey and Kraytenberg each had two hits for Clark, while Wright scored two runs.

Game 2: Clark University 7, Emerson College 0
Foley was masterful in the circle for the Cougars, spinning her fourth complete game shutout of the season to pick up her seventh win.

Leah Bodin (Andover, Vt.) had Clark in front 2-0 after her RBI single in the second and her bases loaded walk in the fourth.

Clark added two more runs in the fifth when Gonzalez doubled home Mackey and then Kraytenberg raced home on a wild pitch.

Ahead 4-0 in the seventh, McHugh provided some two-out insurance was she blasted a three-run shot that brought home Mackey and Kraytenberg who both singled.

Bodin and Mackey each had two hits in the nightcap, while Kraytenberg was on base three times with a single and two walks.

Mackey ends her junior campaign riding an 11-game hit streak and a stretch of five straight games with two hits.