SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Western New England Softball team captured a pair of crucial wins in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) doubleheader with Roger Williams on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Bears took the opener 2-0, and rallied to win the second game 12-2 in five innings.
Western New England improves to 15-12 overall with a 10-4 record in conference play. Roger Williams slips to 11-18 with a 9-5 TCCC record.
In the first game, the Golden Bears scored the only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth, as sophomore shortstop Jeana Longo (Schenectady, N.Y.) got things underway with a single up the middle. Freshman third baseman Katie Eckert (Lee, Mass.) doubled down the left field line to plate freshman Morgan Kinney (Gansevoort, N.Y.) who pinch ran for Longo.
Longo was 2-for-3, collecting half of the Golden Bears hits in game one. Junior pitcher Sarah Lempicki (Southington, Conn.) earned the win, allowing just four hits while striking out six batters.
Sophomore pitcher Kelly Marcin (Windsor Locks, Conn.) allowed just one earned run and four hits in suffering the loss for the Hawks. Roger Williams was led offensively by junior right fielder Natasha Stone (Harrison, N.Y.) who was 2-for-3 at the plate.
In the second game, the Hawks jumped out to a quick 2-0 advantage in the top of the first inning, as junior shortstop Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.) smashed a two-run homer to left center.
Western New England's bats came alive in the second inning, plating five runs to grab the lead. The Golden Bears piled on seven more runs an inning later to put the game out of reach.
Leading the way was senior first baseman Tricia Breault (Millville, Mass.) who was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Junior right fielder Rachel Wyrwa (Metheun, Mass.) was 2-for-3, driving in three runs and scoring once. Lempicki and freshman center fielder Maria Francese (Dalton, Mass.) each drove in a pair of runs. Junior pitcher Meagan Riemann (Dayville, Conn.) picked up the win, allowing four hits in five innings of work.
Western New England returns to action on Tuesday (Apr. 12) at 4:00 p.m. for a non-league meeting with Westfield State. Roger Williams hosts Nichols College on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.
- Release courtesy of the Western New England College Sports Information Department
