Dartmouth Picks Up Non-Conference Win Over Merrimack

Wednesday, April 19

Hanover, N.H.

3:00 PM

Dartmouth College

12-17

Merrimack

13-22

Merrimack

Dartmouth

Photo by: Doug Austin

Dartmouth Picks Up Non-Conference Win Over Merrimack

4/19/2023 7:00:00 PM | Softball

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The Big Green secured a 5-2 win prior to their series against Yale this weekend

By: Francis Forte

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth softball team powered past Merrimack in a non-conference contest on Wednesday, April 19. The Big Green recorded 10 hits in a 5-2 victory at the Dartmouth Softball Park in its only scheduled home game against a non-Ivy League opponent.

Reigning Ivy League Co-Player of the Week Kate Farren and Jenna Brown each recorded a trio of hits on four at-bats and an RBI. Ashley Frantz joined Farren and Brown with a multi-hit performance and an RBI, while Leila Hennessy also batted in a run on a sacrifice fly for Dartmouth (12-17, 6-6 Ivy League).

Izzy Kam pitched four scoreless innings and secured her third win of the season in the circle. The junior struck out four batters in her second start of the season. Rachel McCarroll registered her second save of the year as she struck out five Merrimack (13-22, 9-6 NEC) batters in three innings of play.

How it happened:
Frantz recorded the first hit of the afternoon, as the freshman battled through a nine-pitch at-bat to earn a single through the right side. Dartmouth's side was retired following three straight outs to close the inning.

Kam recovered from a rocky start to the second inning. After a walk and wild pitch placed a runner in scoring position, the junior battled to keep Merrimack off the board. She dealt a pair of strikeouts and forced a foul out to strand the runner at second. Jenna Brown reached scoring position with a well-hit double to left field, but the Big Green were unable to break the scoreless tie.

The Big Green loaded the bases in the bottom of the third frame but could not bring in a run. An inning later, Dartmouth took advantage of a pair of errors committed by Merrimack to break the scoreless tie.

Brown successfully moved Farren to third with a bunt single, and a throwing error from the Warriors allowed the senior to reach home and take the lead. A fielder's choice from Frantz drove in Brown as the Big Green took a 2-0 lead into the fifth.

McCarroll entered the contest in the top of the fifth and held Merrimack off the board. Alaana Panu reached second base following an error and was brough home by Farren with a double to center field. Dartmouth top a three-run lead into the sixth.

Merrimack was unable to solve McCarroll in the top of the sixth, as the sophomore recorded a trio of strikeouts. The Big Green added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Hennessy and an RBI single from Brown.

The Warriors spoiled Dartmouth's combined shutout in the top of the seventh, as a two-RBI double trimmed the Big Green lead to three. Merrimack brought the tying run to the plate with two outs, but McCarroll slammed the door on the rally with a strikeout to close the contest.

Dartmouth improved to 1-2 against Merrimack in the all-time series and improved to 5-2 in Hanover.

Up Next:
The Big Green will head to New Haven, Connecticut for a crucial Ivy League series against Yale this weekend. The games are currently slated for 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, followed by a 12:30 contest on Sunday, but weather may cause changes to the series schedule. All three games will be streamed on ESPN+ and Stretch Internet internationally.