MULE WEEKLY RECAP

Softball Takes the Bangor Regional, Advances to Sweet 16

The Colby Softball team heard their name called early last week when the NCAA Division III Tournament bracket was announced, delivering the Mules their first trip to the national event. Heading north to Bangor, Colby was set to face off against Husson, MIT, and Endicott in the double-elimination pod.

The Mules opened with #21 MIT, an opponent Colby had already dispatched earlier in the year (a 6-4 win in March). This time, the Engineers proved the victors, using a five-run fourth inning to jump in front, holding on for the win 7-2.

On Friday Colby entered win-or-go-home mode, and they responded with authority. The Mules faced Husson in the morning matchup, another familiar foe whom Colby earned a split with in early April (3-2, 2-4). With another tightly contested matchup, Juliana Kiley doubled to center in the fifth to knot the game 2-2, and Emma Burnham delivered the knockout blow with a walk-off homerun in the bottom of the seventh, her second long ball of the game.

In the nightcap against Endicott, the Mules found themselves in a 3-1 deficit as they entered their half of the sixth inning. RBI singles by Kelsey Sullivan, Carissa Cassidy, and Burnham plated five runs, and the Mules avoided elimination once again with a 6-3 victory. Sophia Meade earned the win in both games, throwing a combined 9.2 innings while allowing just a single earned run.

Come Saturday, the Engineers were the only team standing in Colby's way. In the opener, Colby built an early 4-2 lead and extended it with runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh to cruise to a 9-2 victory. Avery Lyman led the offense with three hits and three RBI, while Cassidy, Burnham, Kiley, and Victoria Ramirez collected two hits apiece. Meade got her third win in the circle in as many tries, throwing 5.2 shutout innings in relief.

In the final and deciding game, the Mules were not to be denied. The teams traded runs early before Colby plated four runs in the fourth to take an 8-3 lead. A late rally by MIT came up short, and Colby punched its ticket for their first trip to the Sweet-16. Burnham was named Regional Tournament MVP after collecting nine hits and seven RBI across the three days. Cassidy, Kiley, and Meade joined the senior on the All-Tournament team.

Already with a program record 30 wins on the season (shattering the previous mark of 24 set in 2023), the Mules advance to the Super Regional round in Greensboro, N.J. where they will face Rowan, the winners of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), in a best-of-three set. Game 1 is slated for Thursday at 2:00 and game 2 Friday at 1:00, with game 3 to follow if necessary.

Softball Headlines Five on All-NESCAC Team, Baseball and Crew Tally Two Apiece

The NESCAC announced conference awards this week with Softball, Baseball, and Crew earning several distinctions.

For softball, Carissa Cassidy earned her fourth career All-NESCAC team selection and is joined by pitchers Sophia Meade and Sharlotte Stazinski on the First Team. Juliana Kiley and Victoria Ramirez both earned a spot on the Second Team.

Patrick Shrake earned his second consecutive First Team honors and is joined by pitcher Matt Higgins who was named to the Second Team.

On the crew team, Eliza Nilson capped off her senior year with her second All-NESCAC selection being named to the second team. She is joined by Jack Childress of the men’s team earning his first career All-Conference recognition.