BRISTOL, R.I. – It was a battle for southeastern Rhode Island bragging rights, and a fight for all 21 outs but in the end the Roger Williams University Softball team dropped a pair to Salve Regina University on Sunday afternoon at Paolino Field. After the Hawks tied the score in the bottom of the sixth, the Seahawks struck for three runs in the top of the seventh in game one on their way to a 4-2 win before both offenses erupted for 27 combined hits and 20 runs, but the guests held off a late RWU rally, taking game two, 11-9.
 
With the losses the Hawks find themselves at 4-20 on the year and have very little room for error in conference play as well as they are now 2-6 against Commonwealth Coast Conference opponents. Meanwhile the birds from Newport pick up a pair of crucial conference wins to improve to 3-5 in CCC play and 11-12 overall.
 
Game one was a pitcher's duel, as Lia Nocella (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Alex Kelly (East Meadow, N.Y.) traded zeros much of the way, but Kelly was slightly better going the distance and allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits and a walk while striking out six to improve to 9-5 on the season. Nocella was very sharp in the circle for the second consecutive day for RWU but like Saturday she got tagged with the tough-luck loss to fall to 1-7 after pitching all seven frames, allowing four runs, all earned on ten hits, walking none and fanning five.
 
The second half of the twin bill was the polar opposite as softballs flew throughout the yard and runs flew on the board and each squad required three pitchers each in the game. Taking the loss for Roger Williams was Taylor Myers (East Haven, Conn.) who fell to 1-4 after throwing 2.1 innings of relief allowing five runs, all earned, on six hits. Isabelle Michaud (Bradford, Conn.) got the start completed 4.1 innings allowing seven runs, four earned, on eight hits to collect her first win of the season at 1-6. Later, Kelly pitched for the Seahawks and collected her first save of the season by recording the final three outs.
 
Hawk Highlights
Game 1
Isabelle Rosado: 2-for-3, 2B, SB, RBI
Taylor Bigliani: 1-for-1, 2B, RBI
Sydney Provencal: 1-for-4, RS
Emma MacLean: 0-for-1, BB, RS
 
Lia Nocella: (L, 1-7), 7.0 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
 
For The Opponents
Christina Braid: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, RS
Lauren Packer: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RS
Emily Lane: 1-for-4, RBI
Jacey Cosciello: 1-for-4, RS
 
Alex Kelly: (W, 9-5), 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
 
How It Happened
Game one flew along on this blustery Bristol afternoon as the two starters really dominated through the first six frames with one exception each. Salve Regina got on the board against Lia Nocella (Tyngsboro, Mass.) in the third. With two outs Lauren Packer (Manchester, N.H.) ripped a double down the leftfield line then Christina Braid (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) followed with a single back through the box and just like that, the guests had the advantage.
 
Alex Kelly (East Meadow, N.Y.) went unblemished through five full innings until Roger Williams finally broke through with a quick strike in the sixth. Sydney Provencal (Cumberland, R.I.) leadoff by dumping a single over the first baseman's head before Isabelle Rosado (Central Islip, N.Y.) split the gap in left-center two pitches later and Provencal came flying around to score all the way from first to tie things at one.
 
The guests had an answer in the top of the seventh. Nocella got the first out before Drew Ceppetelli (Barrington, N.H.) and Jacey Cosciello (Seymour, Conn.) got back-to-back singles. Packer then hit a comebacker to the mound that Nocella gloved and retired the lead runner at third for the second out. Braid followed by grounding one over the third base bag and down the leftfield line for two bags as both runners crossed the plate to give the Seahawks the edge. Emily Lane (Tinton Falls, N.J.) followed with a single to right, plating another run and while Nocella escaped further damage, the visitors had the lead again.
 
The Hawks threatened to get even in the seventh as with two outs, Emma MacLean (Newton, Mass.) drew a free pass and pinch hitter Taylor Bigliani (Saint James, N.Y.) doubled down the line in left to get the tying run at the plate, but Provencial grounded out to retire the side and game one belonged to the Seahawks.
 
Game 2
Isabelle Rosado: 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Sydney Provencal: 2-for-4, 2 2B, RBI, 3 RS
Alexandra Lombardo: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI, RS
Alex Burdick: 1-for-4, RBI, RS
 
Taylor Myers: (L, 1-4), 2.1 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
 
For The Opponents
Drew Ceppetelli: 3-for-5, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 RS
Lauren Packer: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 RS
Christina Braid: 3-for-4, 2B, RBI
Katie Ramos: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI, RS
 
Isabelle Michaud: (W, 1-6), 4.1 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Alex Kelly: (SV, 1), 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
 
How It Happened
It seemed as though the late rallies by both squads in game one really carried over into the second contest as the levees opened and the runs flowed, and that trend began in the first. Salve Regina got on the board in the top of the inning as Drew Ceppetelli (Barrington, N.H.) leadoff with a single, Jacey Cosciello (Seymour, Conn.) bunted her over, and Lauren Packer (Manchester, N.H.) singled her in to once again give SRU the early advantage.
 
Roger Williams responded in the bottom half thanks to a little help from the Seahawks defense. Sydney Provencal (Cumberland, R.I.) got hit by a pitch to start the inning then Isabelle Rosado (Central Islip, N.Y.) got an infield hit to apply some early pressure. Taylor Bigliani (Saint James, N.Y.), who got the game two start as the designated player, ripped one to third that Kylie Lanteri (Berlin, Conn.) handled but she lost it as she went to tag the bag and pull the ball out of her glove. Mayhem ensued as Lanteri retrieved the ball and Provencal got halfway down the line to home, hesitated, then continued to score while the throw by Lanteri sailed high. As the catcher Morganti Bello (Corte Madera, Calif.) chased the ball at the backstop, Rosado flew around, trying to score but Bello won the footrace to the plate and tagged her out. While all that was happening Bigliani reached third and Bay Naples (Livingston, N.J.) cashed in by flaring a single over the third baseman as the Hawks claimed the lead.
 
The Seahawks got even in the second as Kendall Duprey (Cranston, R.I.) and Francesca Rubino (Burlington, Mass.) each singled to conclude Ellie Fleming's (Marshfield, Mass.) first stint in the circle. Taylor Myers (East Haven, Conn.) entered, and Katie Ramos (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) singled to tie things two batters later, but that was all as Myers avoided further damage.
 
After each offense took a turn at bat off, things opened up again in the bottom of the third. Provencal leadoff with a double and she scored on a single by Rosado. RWU proceeded to load the bases with one out, but nothing more came of it.
 
The guests took the lead for good in the fourth. With one out, Bello doubled, Ramos followed with a two-bagger of her own to plate a run and Ceppetelli tripled to give Salve the lead. Cosciello followed by rolling one over on the ground as the throw by the Hawks came home but was too late. Packer then singled to chase Myers in favor of Nicole Corey (Dighton, Mass.). Christina Braid (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) followed by rudely welcoming Corey with a shot to dead center that clanged against the fence to score a run. Lanteri capped things off singling in a run and suddenly the Seahawks had a 7-3 lead.
 
SRU piled on some insurance in the fifth with some two-out magic. With Bello on second following a walk and a sacrifice bunt, Ceppetti doubled in a run then Cosciello reached on a fielding error by Jamie Wells (Castle Rock, Colo.). She threw to first and Cappetti tried coming around to score and she would do so as the throw by Alexandra Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.) got away. Cosciello advanced to second on the play and then came home on a Packer single. That concluded Corey's outing as Roger Williams brought Fleming, who still had re-entry eligibility, back in to pitch. Lanteri singled two batters later and the lead was 11-3 in favor of the visitors.
 
Needing runs to avoid a run-rule defeat, the Hawks offense came alive, matching their season-high for runs in an inning. Taylor Howell (Sandwich Mass.) and Francesca Cioffi (Brewster, N.Y.) each pinch hit, and each reached on a single and an error respectively. Alex Burdick (Jewett City, Conn.) brought in a run on a fielders choice before Emma MacLean (Newton, Mass.) reached on an infield single. That brought up Lombardo who cranked a double down the left field line, scoring both runners and chasing Isabelle Michaud (Bradford, Conn.) from the circle. After Maddie Predaris (Rye, N.H.) pinch hit and lined out, Kaylin Fehan (Plymouth, Mass.) stepped in and reached on an error by Lanteri that also allowed Lombardo to cross the plate. Provencal and Rosado each ripped an RBI double to get the hosts within two at 11-9.
 
Unfortunately for RWU, that was as close as they would get as they got the tying run to the plate in both the sixth and seventh innings, but they failed to breakthrough and SRU secured the doubleheader sweep.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams will hit the road for a makeup doubleheader against Anna Maria College on Tuesday night. Game one will be at 2:30 PM.