This time a year ago, the Bobcats found themselves at 6-16. They struggled in their preseason showcases and were swept by the Iona Gaels in their first series of the season. Just one year later, Quinnipiac sits in second place in the MAAC behind Marist and is one of three teams in the conference with an overall winning record.
Their next test in their young conference play season was against a new MAAC foe in the Merrimack Warriors. The Warriors have struggled to say the least this year, but brought the fight to Hamden and had the Bobcats on their heels. Ultimately, it would be Quinnipiac taking both games in a doubleheader bought, the first by a score of 3-2 in extras, and the second 11-7 in come-from-behind fashion.
“We’re not trying to focus too much on the record. We’re just trying to take it inning by inning every single day, and that’s the main focus,” said Quinnipiac head coach Hilary Smith after the game.
The games were a tale of two different stories. The first contest was marked by strong starting pitching and excellent fielding. The Bobcats had their new number one in sophomore Shannon Kendall, taking the mound for the day. Kendall went all eight innings for Quinnipiac, striking out three and giving up two runs on six hits. She was matched on the other side by Merrimack pitcher Anna Gedacht, who also pitched the complete game for the Warriors. Gedacht also struck out three batters but ultimately gave up the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to seal the deal for the Bobcats.
The Bobcats jumped to an early lead in game one, picking up two RBI singles from Riley Potter and Aryn Bombery. Quinnipiac held the lead until the fifth before Merrimack cut the lead in half and put pressure on the Cats. The Warriors were able to force extra innings after knotting things at 2-2 in the top of the 7th. The Bobcats went to the plate in the next half inning and left empty-handed, perhaps saving their late-game heroics until the end.
After a clean eighth inning from Kendall, senior Mary Fogg led the Bobcats off for the inning, cranking a single down the first base line. Food advanced to second, getting herself in scoring position as senior captain Sofia Vega stepped up to the plate. After eclipsing the century mark for career hits over the weekend, Vega continued her hot streak as she mashed a ball into deep right field that took one hop before hitting the outfield fence. Fogg scored easily on the play.
Smith spoke to Vega’s growth over the years postgame.
“I love that girl, I love her so much…and I don’t know if anybody really remembers all this, but like, her first two years…I would literally pinch hit for her every single time with runners on for the most part.”
Just a few seasons later, and not only is Vega one of the captains for this squad, but she’s making big-time plays to decide the day for her team. Quinnipiac claimed the first of two games on the afternoon as a result. Little did they know, this would only be the start of the drama.
After the two squads combined for a total of five runs in eight innings in game one, they combined for that total again in just one inning. The Warriors leaped to a 4-0 lead in the first after freshman pitcher Laney Adie struggled to find her footing. Fellow freshman pitcher Jasmin Kline stepped in for a few innings in relief of Adie while the Bobcats tried to close the gap at the plate.
The Bobcats were able to cut the Warriors’ lead to 4-3 before both sides’ bats went cold in the third and fourth innings. Shannon Kendall returned to the bump for the Bobcats at the top of the fifth inning after Kline worked herself into a bases-loaded jam. Kendall did manage to get out of the inning relatively unscathed, but not before Merrimack could tack on an additional two runs to cushion their lead.
Fogg kicked off the bottom of the fifth inning for Quinnipiac with a leadoff double. Sofia Vega walked in her next at-bat, leaving two runners on and no outs for the Bobcats’ team leader in RBIs, senior captain Kennedy Demott. Demott stepped into the box and promptly singled into left, scoring Fogg. The next batter, Riley Potter, sent an RBI single to left center to score Vega.
Later on in the inning, the Bobcats loaded the bases and had a run walk in for them by the Warriors. With the bases loaded and two outs, senior Noelle Reid singled and scored two runs for Quinnipiac to take an 8-7 lead. However, Merrimack was able to throw out senior Ally Hochstadter at third base to end the inning before any more damage could be done.
The Bobcats went on to add three extra insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kendall walked out in the seventh and sent the Warriors home in three batters. Quinnipiac had done what last year seemed to be the unthinkable. After playing three games in two days over the weekend, they had just one day off before a midweek doubleheader and two crucial conference games.
The Bobcats have shown that they’re looking to correct some previous narratives this year. They will have their next chance to prove their mettle with back-to-back series against conference foes Rider and Manhattan in the coming weeks.
