Trailblazers Ready Themselves for Ephs in NCAA Tournament
The MCLA Trailblazers softball program returns to the NCAA for the first time since 1995 this weekend; the Trailblazers will play a familiar opponent in the opening game.
MCLA will be making the short trip down route 2 to take on perennial NESCAC power Williams College. In fact, these two teams met just over a week ago in North Adams as a tune-up for their respective conference tournaments. Williams broke open a one-run game in the seventh inning of game one to win 8-3 and won the night cap 5-0 in a game that was called after six innings due to darkness.
The Trailblazers are just 15-20, but finished the season strong going 11-7 after a slow start. The Trailblazers got to this point by playing a competitive schedule down in Florida that included NCAA teams M.I.T., Tufts and WNEC who is also in this weekend's pod at Williams.
MCLA has been fueled by starting pitcher Rachel Quackenbush. Quackenbush is the most prolific pitcher in the programs' history and in her last two seasons she has tossed 28 complete games, struck out 370 batters in 267 innings and posted a 1.62 ERA.
Quackenbush will be facing a Williams squad that hit .330 as a team this season. The 30-7 Ephs are led by senior Mo Frank and sophomore Alison Michalik. Frank is hitting a robust .466, and always puts the bat on the ball, fanning just 8 times in 132 at-bats. Michalik hit .394 at the top of the line-up and scored a team high 34 runs.
The Ephs also have power as Lexi Curt has 16 extra-base hits including 7 homers, while driving in 38 runs.
The Trailblazers have been swinging the bats themselves lately as they scored 18 runs in the MASCAC tournament and belted three home runs over the weekend.
The Trailblazers are balanced at the dish as a quintet of ladies bat between .290 and .330. Center-fielder Michaela DiNicola a contact hitter leads the team at .333 and reaches base overall at a .409 clip. Utility player Amanda Meczywor and Quackenbush supply a little pop. The duo has combined for 27 extra-base hits on the season. Abigail Lucas and Angelica Perfido have also been consistent hitting just below .300 on the season.
The Trailblazers had a chance to get a look at Williams ace Brooke Bovier last week and that can only be an advantage for MCLA. Bovier has been outstanding for the Ephs this year posting a 15-3 record with an ERA of 1.53. Bovier got the win in game two last week at MCLA; Bovier doesn't possess the power numbers of a Quackenbush, but she has surrendered just 87 hits in 119 innings.
Williams had a fourteen game winning streak snapped in the NESCAC tournament as they dropped a pair to undefeated Tufts University. The Ephs are 7-1 at home this season.
The Trailblazers have a solid 7-4 road record and shouldn't be concerned about the Ephs sweeping MCLA last week. On April 25th Worcester State swept MCLA at home and helped secure a first place finish for the Lancers. However, MCLA bounced back and eliminated Worcester State from the MASCAC tournament by beating them 8-4 at Worcester in the conference semi-finals.
The Trailblazers will look to do the same Friday evening in Williamstown. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 PM. The Trailablazers will play Saturday as well in either a winners or losers bracket game. The first round is double elimination as WPI and WNEC will play the first game on Friday at 2:30 PM, all games this weekend will be played at Williams College.
There will be three games Saturday, with Game 3 beginning at 11 a.m., Game 4 at 1:30 p.m. and Game 5 at 4 p.m.
Sunday's championship game, Game 6, is slated to begin at 12 p.m. If a Game 7 is necessary, it will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Ticket prices are as follows: Adult – $5; Student – $3; Senior Citizen/Veteran – $3; and children under 12 – $2. Children age 2 and under are admitted free with a paying adult.