The BFA-St. Albans Comets’ offense was sputtering after a couple of innings of just one base on balls in the game against Essex on Tuesday, April 21. Sophomore Khloe Carpenter then led off the top of the third inning with a blast over the left field fence to give the Comets a 1-0 lead.
After a couple of walks, sophomore Emma Parah came to the plate and hit a line drive to right field to score two runs to give the Comets a 3-0 lead after the top of the third. The Comets added to their lead in the top of the seventh. Aubrey Marchessault drew a walk. Megan Gonyeau sacrificed her to second. Freshman Irie Shed then lashed her second hit of the game to move Marchessault to third. After Shedd advanced to second on a steal, Carpenter came through again and drove in a run with a single. Chatham Brouillette drove in the fifth run of the game with an rbi groundball to second.
The Comet defense was stellar as well as the outfield of Shedd, Parah and Jillian Smith had six putouts in the outfield. Gonyeau was the starting pitcher; she pitched 6 plus innings and struck out seven and scattered 7 hits. Shedd relieved her in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded. Shedd struck out two after a couple of hits from Essex scored three runs. Shedd closed out the game with a strikeout to quelch the rally and give the Comets a season opening 5-3 win.
The Comets will have their season opener on Saturday, April 25, when they host South Burlington at 11 a.m.