BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Softball team began Commonwealth Coast Conference play with a doubleheader split against Nichols College, taking the opener 11-1 in five innings before falling 5-7 in the nightcap.
 
Hawk Highlights
Game 1
Tara Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.): 2-for-3, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 SB, 4 RBI
Taylor Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.): 2-for-3, 3 R, 2B, 1 BB, 1 RBI
Taylor Howell (Sandwich, Mass.): 1-for-3, 1 3B, 4 RBI
Lia Nocella (Tyngsboro, Mass.): (W, 4-1), 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
 
For The Opponents
Samantha Kostek (Oxford, Conn.): 1-for-2
Taylor Commesso (Hingham, Mass.): 1-for-2, 1 RBI
Candice Nelson (Oxford, Mass.): (L, 1-2), 3.0 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 3 K  
Game 2
Taylor Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.): 3-for-3, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 SB, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Alex Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.): 2-for-4, 2 R
Sydney Provencal (Cumberland, R.I.): 2-for-4
Ellie Fleming (Marshfield, Mass.): 3.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Jessie Robicheaw (Cape Elizabeth, Maine): (L, 0-1), 0.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER
 
For The Opponents
Samantha Kostek (Oxford, Conn.): 3-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI
Taylor Commesso (Hingham, Mass.): 3-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI
Colleeen Callahan (Billerica, Mass.): 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI
Alyssa Ouellette (Auburn, N.H.): (W, 2-1), 7.0 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
 
How It Happened
In the opener, an RBI single by Taylor Commesso put the Bison up 1-0 in the top of the first. Yet Roger Williams came back in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Chatowsky scored Sydney Provencal on a bases-loaded walk, while Taylor Howell followed with a bases-clearing triple for a 4-0 Hawk lead.
 
Taylor Chatowsky and Howell both came through again for RWU in the bottom of the third. Chatowsky knocked in a pair of runs with a two-RBI double followed by an RBI groundout by Howell to extend the Hawk led to five. Provencal added one more in the inning on an infield single to bring home Emma MacLean.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Taylor and Tara Chatowsky each logged RBI hits for RWU, while MacLean notched an RBI single of her own to put the Hawks up 11-1. Lia Nocella would then leave one runner stranded at first in the top of the fifth to give Roger Williams the shortened win.
 
The second game saw Nichols again jump out to an early lead in the first; this time with RBI doubles by Colleen Callahan and Commesso for a 2-0 advantage. Bay Naples utilized an infield single to bring home Taylor Chatowsky in the second to make it a 2-1 game.
 
The Bison would get that run back on a misplay at short to allow Commesso to score from third, but the Hawks responded in the bottom half of the inning. Taylor Chatowsky tripled to right to bring home Alex Lombardo and Katrina Goria to tie the game at three.
 
However the Bison would retake the lead in the top of the fourth, with Samantha Kostek and Kamryn Gurnee-Mims each logging RBI doubles to put Nichols back up by two. A sac fly and another RBI double extended Nichols' lead to four.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks made a rally to get back in the game. With two outs runners at second and third, a high throw to first on a come-backer to the pitcher allowed RWU to get two runs back on the board and make it a 7-5 game. Yet a groundout to second clinched the game for Nichols.
 
Player's Corner
"The defense played really well and held Nichols to only one run and everyone in the lineup made really solid contact with the ball. I am excited to see how this team continues to improve with every game as conference play continues." – Lia Nocella
 
What's Next
Roger Williams (6-4, 1-1 CCC): Wednesday, March 31 at Nichols @ 2:00 PM
Nichols (4-4, 1-1 CCC): Wednesday, March 31 vs. Roger Williams @ 2:00 PM