SWAMPSCOTT — Tuesday was simply not the Swampscott softball team’s day, as the Big Blue couldn’t get into a rhythm on offense or defense in a 14-2 home loss to Medford at Forest Ave Park. Swampscott went hitless through the first three innings before finally breaking through in the bottom of the fourth.
“Their pitcher (Sam Melanson) really kept us off balance all day and showed that she’s a pretty good pitcher,” said Swampscott coach Gary Moran. “But our real problem today was more the kind of defense we played out there. There were some plays that should have been made, some plays that weren’t made.”
Despite the loss, Swampscott got a solid performance on the mound from Caleigh Hopkins, who went six innings. Riley Lord came in to pitch the seventh. Lord also was one of two Big Blue players to drive in a run in the loss, the other being Chloe Rakauskas. Swampscott only mustered four total hits in the game.
The game remained scoreless through the first two innings, but Medford got on the board in the top of the third. An error in the outfield put a runner on second base with just one out for Mia Windslow, who laced an RBI single into centerfield. Windslow advanced to second base after the throw went to home, then she was knocked in by Carmen Diorio’s RBI single to make it 2-0.
Then came the top of the fourth, where Medford did most of its damage. The Mustangs loaded the bases with two outs, then a ball off the bat of Windslow turned into an error and brought home two runs to make it 4-0. Next up was Diorio, who hit another RBI single. Then Windslow scored on a passed ball. After an RBI single from Halley Farrell and an RBI double from Kenzie Eisnon, Medford had a firm 8-0 lead with total control.
“We just didn’t make the plays when we needed to,” Moran said. “And when you give a good team like that extra chances, it leads to those big innings.”
Swampscott was able to get one run back in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back singles, a fielder’s choice and a flyout placed runners on first and third with two outs for Lord, who hit an RBI single into centerfield to put the Big Blue on the board.
But just as quickly as Swampscott was able to score, Medford got it right back and then some. It was once again Windslow and Diorio doing the damage, as the prior had an RBI double and the latter had an RBI single to stretch the lead to 10-1 in the top of the fifth.
The Mustangs got another run on a passed ball in the top of the sixth, then a sacrifice fly by Rakauskas in the bottom of the sixth made it 11-2. Medford added three more runs in the top of the seventh before walking away with the comfortable win.
While it’s certainly a tough loss to take, Moran believes the Big Blue can rebound moving forward.
“We’ve just got to keep showing up, working hard and being ready to play,” he said. “These girls all know how to field, they’re good at it and they can also hit the ball. So now it’s just a matter of going out and doing it.”
Swampscott (2-5) will try to right the ship this afternoon with a game against Everett.
