BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Softball team had its 11-game winning streak against Wentworth Institute of Technology snapped in a doubleheader split Friday afternoon, winning the first game 6-1 and dropping the second 3-5.
With the win in the second game, the Leopards earned its first victory over Roger Williams University since April 2, 2003, when Wentworth defeated RWU by a 6-1 score.
Christine Bean (Southampton, Mass.) began the scoring for the Hawks in the second after getting on via a walk, stealing second, then scoring on a single by Samantha Teves (Somerset, Mass.).
Renee Bilotti (Bristol, R.I.) added another run for the Hawks in the inning with an RBI single to bring in Teves. The Hawks would add two more in the bottom of the third off of an RBI double by Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.) and an RBI single by Kerry Burke (Old Saybrook, Conn.).
Wentworth notched its first run of the game on the first pitch of the fourth inning, when Lizz Harvey (McConnellsburg, Pa.) launched a home run over the left field fence to bring the Leopards within one. Yet that would be as close as Wentworth would get, with the Hawks adding runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to pull away.
Jaclyn Doolin (Miller Place, N.Y.) got the win, scattering seven hits in seven innings of work, allowing a run with ten strikeouts. Michelle Caprice (Oak Ridge, N.J.) and Erica Castro (Medford, N.Y.) each went 2-for-3 with a run scored, with Caprice also adding an RBI.
Caylee Johanson (Windsor, Conn.) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) in six innings with a strikeout. Nicole Ferreira (Framingham, Mass.) went 2-for-2 at the plate, with Harvey's lone hit in the game the solo homer.
In the second game, the Leopards attacked early, getting three runs in the top of the first on an RBI single by Bridget Souza (Medford, Mass.) and a pair of sacrifice flies by Johanson and Kim Cabral (San Antonio, Fla.). Harvey came through with an RBI single in the second to make it a 4-0 Leopard lead.
Johanson, in the circle for her second straight start, had the Hawks' number over the first half of the game, holding RWU to only one hit in the first three innings and working out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth. The Hawks were ultimately able to get to her in the fifth, with Bilotti, Castro, and Sarah Grill (Watervliet, N.Y.) each coming around to score in the frame to pull the Hawks within one.
In the seventh, Souza's RBI single gave the Leopards an insurance run and a 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Castro got on via a base hit and into scoring position on a wild pitch with only one out. Yet Johanson closed the door on the rally, inducing a fly out to right and a pop-up to first to hold on for the win.
Johanson allowed three runs (one earned) in the complete game, giving up nine hits and one walk. Souza went 2-for-4 with two RBI, with Krista Kelley (Medford, Mass.) going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs.
Alexandra Sera (Newton, Mass.) took the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) in seven innings on eight hits with two strikeouts. Burke and Melissa Sereti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) each had two hits and an RBI for the Hawks.
Roger Williams (14-12, 6-6 TCCC) will be at New England College Monday for a 3:00 p.m. game, while Wentworth (8-14, 6-8 TCCC) takes on Eastern Nazarene Tuesday at 3:00 p.m.
