BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Softball team had an eventful regular season finale against Wheaton College, with Jaclyn Doolin (Miller Place, N.Y.) breaking the school record for career strikeouts in a 2-6 loss in the opener, followed by a walk-off home run by Erica Castro (Medford, N.Y.) for a 6-3 win in the nightcap.
Doolin entered the day with 504 career strikeouts, needing two to break the record set by former pitcher Lauren Hall '02. After getting a strikeout in the first, Doolin got Valerie Tratner (Forest Hills, N.Y.) swinging for the second out of the second inning for the milestone punch-out.
In the bottom of the second, Caroline Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) put the Hawks on the board with a one-out home run to left for a 1-0 lead. The Hawks' lead held until the fourth went Wheaton plated five runs in the inning. Tratner, Renee Laflam (Concord, N.H.), and Aimee Avila (North Dighton, Mass.) each contributed RBI hits in the inning, with Alanna Monahan (Dorchester, Mass.) coming through with a two-RBI triple.
Wheaton threatened for more runs in the seventh, getting the bases loaded with only one out, but the Lyons only managed one run on an RBI single by Emily Berardi (Boston, Mass.). The Hawks tacked on one run in their final at-bat on a two-out RBI single by Julia Giancola (Durham, Conn.), yet Wheaton was able to hold on for the win.
Allison Baker (Orange, Conn.) notched her 13th win of the season, giving up two runs (one earned) in seven innings with two strikeouts. Laflam and Berardi each went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Monahan went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Doolin took the loss, giving up six runs (three earned) in seven innings. She struck out five on the day and now sits at 509 career strikeouts. Giancola and Kaitlyn Costa (Cranston, R.I.) each went 2-for-3, with Giancola adding an RBI. Atkinson was 2-for-3 with the homer.
The nightcap saw the Hawks grab a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, beginning with an RBI double by Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.). Giancola then scored Pirez with an RBI single of her own.
Wheaton tacked one run in the fifth inning on a RBI double by Jenna Rocha (Rehoboth, Mass.), and then tied the game in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Noelle Christmas (Plymouth, Mass.).
In the seventh, the Lyons looked poised to break the game open, with the first three batters reaching base. Yet the Hawks were able to get out of the inning allowing only one run on a sacrifice fly by Ashley Brillon (Attleboro, Mass.).
In the bottom of the frame, the Hawks needed only one pitch to tie the game, as Pirez sent the first ball she was over the left field fence to knot the game at three. Giancola followed with a single then moved to second on a sacrifice. Kelly Marcin (Windsor Locks, Conn.) kept the rally going with a pinch hit single to left, moving pinch-runner Laura McConnell (Lexington, Mass.) over to third. Molly Petrone (Northborough, Mass.), pinch-running for Marcin, stole second and set up the dramatic finish for Castro. With the count at 1-2, Castro gave the Hawks the win with a walk-off three run homer to left field to end the regular season on a winning note.
Stacy Broughton (Newtown, Conn.) improved to 3-0 on the year with the complete game, allowing three runs with two strikeouts. Pirez finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Lauren Tierney (Middleboro, Mass.) finished 2-for-2 with a run scored, while Giancola was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Castro was 1-for-4 with her lone hit the game-winning homer.
Christmas took the loss, giving up four runs in 3.1 innings of relief. She also finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. Amanda Poplaski (North Reading, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with a run.
Roger Williams (18-21) will enter the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament as the #4 seed and will travel to Salve Regina on Monday take on the winner of Saturday's #8 Eastern Nazarene/#5 Nichols play-in game. Wheaton (19-21) resumes NEWMAC Tournament play on Saturday against Wellesley.
