BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Softball team claimed two conference victories Thursday afternoon, defeating Eastern Nazarene College by the scores of 8-0 and 6-0.
Jaclyn Doolin (Miller Place, N.Y.) held the Eastern Nazarene offense in check in the first game, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning until Vera Abbott (Sumner, Maine) tripled down the right field line to break up the bid. That would be the only hit allowed by Doolin in the game, as she tossed a complete-game, six-inning one-hitter while striking out a season-high ten batters in the process.
Offensively, Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.), Samantha Teves (Somerset, Mass.), and Kerry Burke (Old Saybrook, Conn.) each finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate. Pirez also had a pair of RBI and runs. Teves added two RBI and a run, while Burke scored once in the game.
The Hawks struck in the first inning on Teves' RBI single before tallying three runs in the fourth, two of which came off a triple by Pirez. In the bottom of the sixth, RWU plated four runs in the inning, with an RBI single by Melissa Sereti (Shrewsbury, Mass.) giving the Hawks' their eighth and final run in the shortened game.
Jamie Block (Pembroke, Mass.) took the loss for Eastern Nazarene, allowing eight runs (five earned) off 14 hits in 5.2 innings.
The second game saw both teams' pitchers hold down the opposing offense throughout the first four innings. Stacy Broughton (Newtown, Conn.) and Block combined to allow only five hits between them over that span, with both teams locked into a 0-0 stalemate.
The Hawks nearly went five scoreless until Michelle Caprice (Oak Ridge, N.J.) reached on a two-out dropped pop-up and scored on an RBI single by Pirez. The Hawks would end up putting two on the board in the inning.
In the sixth, a combination of timely hitting and untimely defense allowed RWU to add on to its lead, scoring four in the frame on five hits and three Lion errors. The top of the seventh saw Hannah Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) salvage a two-out single before the Hawks grabbed the win.
Broughton and Kelly Marcin (Windsor Locks, Conn.) combined for the shutout, with Broughton tossing six scoreless innings with a season-high nine strikeouts before Marcin allowed only one hit in the seventh. Pirez and Erica Castro (Medford, N.Y.) each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, with Castro also scoring a run.
Block picked up the loss, giving up six runs (two earned) on ten hits. Moore, Amber Burns (Fall River, Mass.) and Ja'na Jenkins (Oakland, Calif.) each had a hit for the Lions.
Roger Williams (17-14, 9-7 TCCC) travels to play Regis College Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., while Eastern Nazarene (3-21, 2-14 TCCC) hosts Curry College Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
