Dozier's Double Leads Dedham to 'Needed' Win

The softball understands what it means to be challenged - they also know what it means to persevere.

After dropping the first two games and powerhouse , the Marauders were able to regroup in time to hold off a feisty Framingham squad, 6-4 to improve their record to 6-2 overall.

The key blow was a 2-run RBI double by Brianna Dozier in the bottom of the sixth to give the Marauders a much-needed win.

“We definitely needed this win, but in my mind we needed a big win,” said Dedham coach Erika Eisenhunt.

Framingham was able to get on the board first on the hot bat of Leslie Ferriera who had the first of her two doubles in the game in the first inning to put the Flyers up 1-0.

Dedham countered in the bottom half when Laura Tavalone singled home Dozier, who stole both second and third to get into scoring position after leading off with a single.

Gina Reid put Dedham up 2-1 with a RBI single with one out, to give starting pitcher Brooke Sheehan some added support as she was starting her third game of the week for the Marauders.

After a scoreless second, the Flyers fought back, and were able to muster two leadoff singles off Sheehan, which again set the table for the Flyer slugger, Ferriera. The quiet star responded with her second double, this one a 2-run shot in the left center gap to put her team up 3-2 after three.

 “Our objective today was to put the ball in play, so that was our mindset hitting,” said Flyer coach Erin Powers, whose team dropped to 2-5 overall.

Dedham didn’t quit and the Marauders heart was never better exemplified than when freshman outfielder Meaghan Paton (2-for-3 with a double) hustled to second with a ferocious slide following a wild throw to first, to put her in scoring position.

Paton soon scored on a single by Paige Keefe (2-for-3 RBI, 2 stolen bases) to tie the game and give hope to a bench, who was missing their “spiritual” leader Emily Mosca due to an undisclosed illness.

“We missed [Mosca]’s mentality and intensity,” said Eisenhunt, “she brings a lot to our team, mentally.”

The Flyers got things going in the fifth when Ferreira came up and was stuck on the arm by a Sheehan fastball. She shook it off, and was even able to score the go ahead run on a double by Casey Diana to put her team up  4-3.

"We played pretty well, and I think it will carry over," said Powers. "Games like this are really good for us, they’re close and in the game and even when they are down, they don’t put their heads down."

Sheehan finished the game going seven innings and striking out 12, while Flyers pitcher Jenna Leveque went six innings, striking out three. 

After adding a run in the bottom half, Dozier came up with two outs and lined a shot down the right field line with two strikes to put her team up for good.

 "I wasn’t swinging at great pitches and I wasn’t getting things done," said Dozier, "and my team was counting on me and I just had to pull through."