It was all locked up at 2-2 going into the seventh inning, a familiar position for Westfield this season. Elizabeth went up to bat first and the Minutemen connected with the ball in ways they had not all game.
Elizabeth started off the seventh inning with a double and would never look back from there. This very hit opened up the gates for a 5-run inning that halted any chance Westfield had of winning. The next at-bat for the Minutemen was a similar story. An RBI gave Elizabeth back the lead it had not held since the fourth inning.
The batting of the Minutemen only improved as the inning went on, feeding off the momentum from previous hits. Some more triples, singles and RBIs were all the Minutemen needed to close out the game 7-2.
Westfield attempted to make a fighting comeback in the bottom of the seventh, but ultimately fell short as it could not seem to find the gaps on its hits. Head coach Caitlin Cheddar said, “We weren’t being aggressive enough at the right pitches and we were waiting for something to happen rather than making something happen.”
However, some players showcased their hitting abilities, as senior Grace Loder had two singles and junior Catherine Heflin contributed with a double to propel the team’s offense. The combination of consistent hitting in the fourth inning from Westfield allowed it to tie up the game and gain momentum.
“I was trying to be more aggressive at the plate today and just get the job done,” said Loder. “It doesn’t have to be perfect for me. I just needed to put runners in scoring position.”
Helfin did not just get it done at the plate but had an impressive defensive performance throughout the game as well. The first baseman had an impressive diving catch for the third out in the top of the fourth, which led to Westfield scoring a run. In the sixth inning, Heflin had two catches in a row, stopping the Minutemen in their tracks and keeping the game competitive.
“I think one of the most important things when playing defense is to do your job, and I think I did just that,” said Heflin. “We were in it for most of the game, but we missed some opportunities.”
Those missed opportunities would catch up to the Blue Devils and limit their ability to come out on top. The Minutemen came out strong in the first inning, getting a quick 2-0 lead, while Westfield took some time to adjust to the game. An error for Westfield turned what should have been an Elizabeth double into a triple, leaving a runner in scoring position that Elizabeth would soon capitalize on.
At the end of the day, Elizabeth’s performance in the seventh inning propelled it to victory as Westfield came up short in another clutch moment. “We need to start capitalizing in those tight moments,” said Cheddar. “We have enough experience in those moments where it should not be an emotionally stressful situation and we should be able to rely on our experience.”
This game brings Westfield’s record to 3-5, as the Blue Devils will look to bounce back Wednesday against Brearley.
