The Division I softball championship was on the line on Monday night with Mount Saint Charles prepped to be crowned best in state if they could defeat Cumberland. The Clippers, meanwhile, needed to defeat Mount for two straight games in order to claim the grand prize, since the Mounties were undefeated in post-season play. Cumberland's offense pounded out 20 hits and dominated the game, winning 15-3.
Clippers starting pitcher, Beth Paul, drove in a run in the top of the first with an RBI double down the third base line. Paul would head to the mound in the bottom half with a 1-0 lead.
Cumberland's Kayleigh Martins singled to right field in the top of the second, and Mounties right fielder, captain Hannah Gardella bobbled the ball, allowing the second run of the game to score.
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The Clippers offense was unstoppable all night, as they scored in every inning. Lead-off hitter Bridget Connors went 6 for 6 on the night.
"Bridget has been a catalyst for us in the playoffs this year," Clippers coach Marty Crowley said.
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Mounties shortshop Emily Hendricks threw the ball past the first baseman in the third inning and Cumberland took advantage of the mistake when sophomore Samantha Bertherman's single brought in the third run.
Mount Saint Charles committed six errors in the game, and if a few calls in the game had gone differently, it could have been eight or nine.
"We were not prepared to play defense today," Mounties coach Cliff Matthews said.
Cumberland used a balanced attack on offense, as they got contributions throughout the entire lineup. Their number eight and nine hitters, seniors Kelsey Cahill and Kaitlyn Pluta, combined to go 7 for 8 on the evening.
"Top to bottom we just hit and we were seeing the ball well," Crowley added.
They did the majority of their damage in the fifth inning, when they scored four runs, to extend their lead to 9-0. Paul notched a sacrifice fly, bringing in the eighth run. Connors and captain Kristen Peffer each had RBI singles in the inning.
The Mounties did not go away quietly. Junior Aria DiMeo made up for her fielding mistake, by driving in two runs with a single down the third base line in the bottom half of the fifth. Cumberland's lead had been trimmed to 9-2.
However, MSC would never get any closer throughout the rest of the game. Connors single in the 7th inning drove in the final run of the game, extending the Clippers lead to 15-3. Cumberland starter Beth Paul pitched six innings, allowing the three runs, and recorded eight strikeouts.
The teams will meet tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at Rhode Island College in the decisive game. Tomorrow night's winner will claim the ultimate prize and become state champions.
"They hit the ball really well and there’s a lot we can learn from this," Matthews said.
