The dynamic battery of Kayla Maloney ’13 and Sarah Onorato ’11 propelled Andover Softball to a 12-0 blowout over Lawrence at home on Friday. Maloney shut Lawrence down with fantastic pitching, as she let up only three hits and struck out 14. Maloney also scored three runs, but Onorato stole the show offensively, going two for four with three RBIs. The team carried this momentum into the Saturday’s game, dominating Deerfield 26-6 in five innings.
In the Lawrence game, Andover took an early lead, as a number of walks permitted by the Spartan pitchers and just one error from Andover’s defense proved to be key factors. This helped the team rack up nine runs to take their 9-0 lead by the end of the third inning.
At the plate, Kristin Mendez ’13, Onorato, and Maloney each drove in three runs while Shannon McSweeney ’11 got on base four times, singled, and smashed a double, bringing in two more runs. Maloney’s outstanding performance held the Lawrence team scoreless.
Mendez said, “The lineup did a really great job at working together piece by piece to drive each other in. No one was up to bat thinking for themselves; it was a real team effort.”
On Saturday, carried by twenty-two hits from eleven different players, Andover took down Deerfield 26-6 in five innings under the 15-run mercy rule.
Andover bats were hot from the first inning, as the team quickly scored four runs, and then topped their first inning performance with eleven runs in the second, and eight more in the fourth. Pitcher Abby Chung ’13 mirrored the squad’s offensive success on the mound, allowing four hits and also driving in four runs.
Onorato continued her incredible hitting streak, smashing her second grand slam of the season and six RBIs. Maloney jacked two home runs and drove in five runs.
McSweeney maintained the momentum, as she delivered two hits and three RBIs, matched by Emily Hoyt ’13 who made her first varsity starto and driving in two runs.
In the fifth, Mendez knocked in two more runs, sealing the 26-6 victory under the mercy rule.
Maloney said, “The big wins gave everyone a chance to contribute and get experience for the tournament this weekend. Everyone’s done a really good job of stepping up thus far this season and we look forward to seeing what we can do in the tournament.”
After dominating both Lawrence Academy and Deerfield, Andover Varsity Softball looks to stretch their winning streak as they head into the Big East Tournament this weekend.
