Dover's Lamparter shuts down Northeastern

With her team holding a two-run lead late in the game, Dover pitcher Taylor Lamparter went into shut-down mode. The freshman left-hander retired the final eight hitters she faced in order as the Eagles held on for a 4-2 victory Thursday.

"I had trust in my teammates and knew they would have my back," Lamparter said.

Lamparter threw her first career varsity complete game, allowing two runs on four hits. She struck out eight and walked five.

"She has a lot of confidence, which is awesome as a freshman," Dover head coach Lauren Craig said. "She has trust in her team to be there for her. She has good softball maturity and a good softball mind. She comes to practice ready to go every day."

The Eagles (3-2) took the lead for good in the third inning when Lexi Gohn (3-for-4) doubled to center field. The double scored Jordan Baum and Natalie Cutright to break a 2-2 tie.

After that, Lamparter took over, allowing just a fifth-inning single to Alli Sweitzer. She also set the Bobcats down in order in the third, sixth and seventh.

"I'm just trying to do what I can for my team to help them be the best," Lamparter said.

Dover struck first in the second inning with two outs when Cierra Hockensmith hit an 0-2 pitch to center field, scoring Gohn and Cassandra Root.

Northeastern (1-3) answered back with two runs in the bottom of the second. Krista Anderson's two-out, two-run single to left field tied the game.

Northeastern's Sweitzer struck out eight and walked one, but Dover had 10 hits.

Northeastern left the bases loaded to end the second and stranded a total of seven runners in the game. They also committed two errors.

"I just want them to focus in on cutting out the mental errors they make," Bobcats head coach Dave Marsh said. "Giving people an extra base when they shouldn't and then next thing you know a bloop hit turns into something dangerous. Little things that people take for granted."

Marsh is looking to contend in his first year at Northeastern.

"We want to compete right away," Marsh said. "We want to try and win games, play fundamentally sound and good things will happen."

Dover, which returned a number of juniors, has quite a few playmakers in a crowded Division II.

"We are ready to take on whatever comes our way," Craig said.

Dover 4, Northeastern 2

Dover0220000—4101Northeastern0200000—242

Do, Taylor Lamparter and Karsyn Blauser. Ne, Alli Sweitzer and Katelynn Reed.

SO-BB — D, Lamparter 8-5. NE, Sweitzer 8-1; W — Lamparter; L — Sweitzer; 2B — D, Natalie Cutright, Lexi Gohn.