BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Softball team dropped the first game against the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth 7-6 but came back to win the second game 9-1 Monday evening.
The Hawks got off to a good start with an RBI single by Andrea Gregory (Toms River, N.J.) in the bottom of the first. RWU followed that up with another run in the bottom of the third, as Jen Lyford (Raynham, Mass.) got on with an infield single, then stole second and third base. LeEllen Lewis (Brunswick, Md.) finished the job by singling in Lyford for the Hawks' second run of the game.
The Corsair offense proceeded to open up in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Katy Williams (Charlemont, Mass.) knocked in Kate Kelly (Seekonk, Mass.) with an RBI single, then Ashley Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) plated two with a two-RBI single of her own to put UMass-Dartmouth up 3-2.
The Corsairs followed that inning with two more runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings. The Hawks were able to add three runs in the bottom of the fifth off of the bats of Lewis and Callie Nealon (Hopkinton, Mass.). Finding themselves down 7-5 entering the bottom of the seventh, Lewis cut the deficit to one with an RBI double, but was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Gregory then struck out for the final out of the game as UMass-Dartmouth escaped with the win.
Amie Nickerson (Wrentham, Mass.) earned the victory, picking up her third win of the year. Gregory took the loss, dropping to 5-4.
The Hawk offense picked up significantly in the second game, as the team scored in every inning but the fifth. Lewis started things off in the first with a sacrifice fly to score Lyford. UMass-Dartmouth knotted the game in the following inning with an RBI single by Emily Surprenant (Attleboro, Mass.).
RWU put up a three-spot in the bottom of the second to take a 4-1 lead, then proceeded to pull away with one in the third and two in each of the fourth and sixth innings, ending the game on a bases-loaded walk by Nealon.
Alexandra Sera (Newton, Mass.) picked up her third win, pitching all six innings and allowing only one run. Ashley Puls (West Springfield, Mass.) dropped to 0-5, giving up all nine runs (eight earned).
Lewis finished 3-for-3 in the game with three RBIs, giving her six hits and six RBIs on the day. Adrianna Sicari (Hartsdale, N.Y.) went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Roger Williams (9-13) will host Rhode Island College Thursday at 3:30 p.m., while UMass-Dartmouth (3-11) plays Framingham State Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
