BUZZARDS BAY, Mass -- The Buccaneers softball team opened their season on Tuesday against Fisher College and swept the Falcons 11-3 and 15-1 with both games ending after five innings. Hannah Burton put on a show at the plate with two doubles in game one and a home run in game two. Freshman pitcher Ashleigh Catlett earned her first-career win in the circle in game two.

Game One

The Basics

Final: Buccaneers 11, Falcons 2

Record: Maritime (1-0)

             Fisher (0-10)

In the Circle

Maritime: Jennamarie Klemp (W, 1-0): 5 IP | 4 H | 3 R | 3 ER | 5 BB | 3 K

Fisher: Camryn Willis (L, 0-8): 4 IP | 16 H | 11 R | 11 ER | 3 BB | 2 K

Inside The Numbers

Maritime

• Reagan Kerecz and Ab'c'de Patane each had three hits in game one. Hannah Burton, Kelsey Booker, freshman Sarah Holler, Jennamarie Klemp, and Erin Donlan all had two hits in the game. 
• Patane drove in three runs in the win. Kerecz and Burton each drove in two runs. Booker, Holler, and Klemp all drove in one.
• Patane and Donlan scored twice with seven other Bucs scoring once.
• Patane hit her first home run of the season in the game. Burton had two triples while Kerez, Booker and Holler all had one triple. Kerecz, Booker and Patane all had one double.
• Holler recorded the only stolen base in the game for Maritime.

Fisher

• Four different Falcons recorded a hit in the game one loss. 
• Alexandra Willis drove in two runs and Skyler Beford drove in one. 
• three different players scored the runs for the Falcons.
• Willis and Ariana Ramos Cardona each had a double.

How It Happened

Fisher took and early lead on the Bucs in the top of the first as Maritime looked to shake off the off-season rust. Willis doubled to score two runs and Beford single to score Willis, giving the Falcons a 3-0 lead. In the bottom of the first, Patane singled to score Burton from third after her first triple of the game. Fisher led 3-1 after one.

The second inning was scoreless on both sides and the Bucs held the Falcons in the top of the third. In the bottom of the frame, Patane hit an inside the park home run, her first homer of the season, to score herself and Booker, tying the game at 3-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bucs scored five times to take the lead and open it to 8-3. Kerecz tripled to score Donlan, Burton grounded out and Kerecz came in to score. Patane doubled and a run came in to score on a Fisher miscue. Holer tripled bringing in Patane and Klemp singled to score Holler.

Maritime finished the game off by run rule in the bottom of the fifth. Kerecz singled in Donlan, Burton hit her second triple to score pinch runner Riley Fox, and Booker doubled to bring in the final run of the game and seal the 11-3 season opening victory for Maritime.

Game Two

The Basics

Final: Buccaneers 15, Falcons 1

Records: Maritime (2-0)

               Fisher (0-11)

In the Circle

Maritime: Ashleigh Catlett (W, 1-0): 4 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 3 BB | 5 K

Fisher: Camryn Willis (L, 0-10): 4 IP | 16 H | 15 R | 9 ER | 3 BB | 2 K

Inside The Numbers

Maritime

• Kelsey Booker went a perfect 4-for-4 in game two. Reagan Kerecz added three hits in the win.
• Hannah Burton and Ab'c'de Patane each had two hits. Sarah Holler, Riley Fox, Ryleigh Ward, Ashley Haller, and Erin Donlan each had one hit in the game.
• Burton drove in six runs in the game. Booker added three RBI and Kerecz and Holler each had two.
• Kerecz scored four times and Burton scored three times. Rubi Butler and Donlan both scored twice. Booker, Patane, Ryleigh Ward, and Haller all scored once.
• Burton hit her first-career home run to left field in the game. Kerecz and Patane had two doubles apiece and Holler had one double.
• Burton was the only Buc credited with a stolen base in the game.

Fisher

• The Falcons had three hits in the game, all from different players. 
• Makayla Tzul drove in the only run and Camryn Willis scored. 

How It Happened

The Bucs scored three runs in the top of the first inning. The first run came in on a Burton sacrifice fly that scored Kerecz. The second and third runs scored on a Falcons error that allowed Booker and Patane each to score. Maritime led 3-0 after one.

In the bottom of the second, Kerecz doubled to right to score Ward. Burton followed that with a single that brought in Butler. Booker then hit an infield single, scoring Kerecz from third. Holler doubled in the final run of the inning to give the Bucs a 7-0 lead after two. 

The Falcons scored their lone run in the top of the third. Tzul singled through the right side of the infield bringing in Willis to make it 7-1 Maritime. In the bottom of the inning, Burton hit what can only be described as a "moon shot" to left field. The first home run of her career was of the three run variety and the Bucs led 10-1.

In the bottom of the fourth, Kerecz reached on an error and Haller scored in the process. Burton reached on a fielder's choice and Butler scored for a second time. Booker then singled in two runs, Kerecz and Donlan, to give the Bucs a 14-1 lead. Fox finished the scoring on a single to right, bringing in Burton and the Bucs led 15-1.

Makynzi Sprague pitched the fifth for the Bucs and though she walked a batter she retired the side and the Bucs walked off the field with a sweep of the Falcons to open their 2024 season.

What's Next

The Buccaneers will host New England College on Thursday at 4pm for a non-conference doubleheader at Rollins Field.