Betti Bucco

Softball 4/19/2015 5:18:00 PM Written by Peter Davis, Athletic Communications Assistant

Softball takes one of two from Nichols on Senior Day

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 BRISTOL, R.I. - The Roger Williams University Softball team split a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) games against Nichols College Sunday afternoon, winning the opener 2-1 before falling in the second game by the same score.

Prior to the game, Roger Williams' Alana Peoples (Scarborough, Maine) was honored for her dedication to the RWU Softball program over the past four years as the lone senior on the team.

In game one, Meghan Maliga (Suffield, Conn.) started on the mound for Roger Williams, while Meghan Sears (Tewksbury, Mass.) took the rubber for Nichols College.

Taylor Messier (Cranston, R.I..) started the game off for the Hawks, laying down a bunt single, and continued to steal second. Messier advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Boulrisse (Bourne, Mass.). The Hawks drew first blood in the bottom of the first, on a RBI single up the middle from Veronica Alicia (Trumbull, Conn.), scoring Messier.

Peoples started off the bottom of the 5th for the Hawks with a blooper into left field, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alicia McCauley (N. Reading, Mass.). She would move to third on a deep fly ball by Messier. However, the Hawks were unable to capitalize, leaving Peoples stranded on third, and headed into the sixth with a precarious 1-0 lead.

Kendall Meehan (Danvers, Mass.) of Nichols started off the top of the 6th with an infield single to shortstop. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Haley Fountain (Warren, Mass.). Kasey Ayer (Niantic, Conn.) later blasted a two-out RBI double into left, scoring Meehan from second base, knotting the game at one apiece.

Heading into the top of the 7th inning, the score remained tied at 1-1. Sears started off the inning reaching on an error at third. Taylor Fritze (Spencer, Mass.) came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Samantha DiReda (Shrewsbury, Mass), but would eventually be left stranded. In the bottom of the 7th with one out, Mikaela Grosso (West Warwick, R.I.) reached first on a walk. An error at third allowed McCauley to reach first and Grosso to advance to third. With two outs, a dropped fly ball in center field allowed Grosso to cross home, scoring the winning run for Roger Williams after a mighty pitching duel by Maliga (W) and Sears (L).

In the second game, on the mound for the Hawks was Tori Milano (Eastchester N.Y.) and Fountain for the Bison. Nichols struck first in the top of the fifth inning. Christina Drake (Lebanon, N.H.) walked with a full count to get on first base, then moved to second on a groundout to first. Drake then scored a play later when Direda hit a double into center field, scoring the first run of the game.

Direda then stole third base, and scored when Christina Barrows (Carver, Mass.) dropped a bunt to allow her to advance home. The Bison led 2-0 after the top of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, McCauley started off with a deep double into center field for the Hawks. Messier then hit a single into center that scored McCauley for an RBI and the Hawks' only run of the inning.

Ultimately, that would be the Hawks' only run of the game, as Nichols held on for the 2-1 win.

The Bison host Gordon for a pair Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Hawks host a doubleheader against Framingham State Wednesday at 3 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Chelsea Boulrisse: OF; 5' 2"; Junior; L/R

#10 Mikaela Grosso: C; 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R

#11 Meghan Maliga: P; 5' 7"; Junior; R/R

#3 Alicia McCauley: OF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#2 Taylor Messier: OF; 5' 5"; Junior; L/R

#20 Tori Milano: P; 5' 3"; Junior; R/R

#19 Alana Peoples: INF; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#5 Chelsea Boulrisse
: 5' 2"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#10 Mikaela Grosso
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; R/R
: C

#11 Meghan Maliga
: 5' 7"; Junior; R/R
: P

#3 Alicia McCauley
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF

#2 Taylor Messier
: 5' 5"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#20 Tori Milano
: 5' 3"; Junior; R/R
: P

#19 Alana Peoples
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: INF