St. Joe's Plays Sharper in Win over Greylock

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PITTSFIELD, Mass — For the first time this year, the Mount Greylock softball team was unable to bail itself out using its potent offense. The Mounties made five errors against Saint Joseph's on Wednesday, including three in a three-run second inning that helped the Crusaders pull away for a 6-0 win at home. 

St. Joe's (7-0) was the sharper of the two undefeated teams at Doyle Softball Complex on Wednesday. The Crusaders played error-free softball and put the ball in play against Greylock starter Heather Tomkowicz. The sophomore hurler only allowed six hits on the day, but the hosts tested the Mounties' defense repeatedly, scoring all three of its runs in the second inning without recording a single hit. 

A fifth Greylock error allowed two more runs to score in the bottom of the fifth, putting the Mounties (6-1) too far behind on a day when they only managed four hits. Of the six runs Tomkowicz allowed, only two were earned. She went the distance, striking out six and walking two on her way to her first loss of the season. 

"St. Joe's did a good job of capitalizing on our mistakes," Greylock head coach June Blake said. "We were unable to get anything going offensively in this one. We had a few opportunities, but they were halted by solid defensive plays by St. Joe's." 

One of those plays came in the second inning when Crusaders shortstop Chanler Hospot fired in a relay throw from the outfield to gun down sophomore Meredith Dezieck, who was trying to leg out a home run after sending a shot all the way to the fence. Dezieck also doubled in the fifth inning, but was quickly doubled off the bag when the next batter softly lined out to the pitcher. 

Playing with a lead only helped the St. Joe's pitching staff, who issued three intentional walks to catcher Caitie Benoit. The Mounties' senior was hitting at a .750 clip coming into the game, so the Crusaders opted not to let her hurt them on this day. Hospot combined with starter Marissa Avanzato to earn the shutout, totaling seven strikeouts and five walks on the day. Avanzato pitched three innings to earn the win before Hospot threw the final four frames to end the game. 

Greylock's game against Lenox on Friday has been postponed. The Mounties next host Drury at 4 p.m. on Monday. 
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