BRISTOL, R.I. – Caroline Thomas (Cranston, R.I.) came flying around from second on a dropped popup and she could have kept running straight to Beverly, Massachusetts as the Roger Williams University Softball team clinched a postseason berth in dramatic fashion with a Senior Day sweep of Suffolk University on Sunday afternoon at Paolino Field. Lia Nocella (Tyngsboro, Mass.) and Ellie Fleming (Marshfield, Mass.) pitched exceptionally well for the Hawks while the top of the lineup provided the offense to secure the two victories by the identical score of 3-2.
 
With the wins, RWU improves to 10-28 on the season and 7-11 in Commonwealth Coast Conference play to leapfrog Gordon College in the standings and clinch the eighth seed. Suffolk, meanwhile, falls to 20-18 and 10-8 in CCC play.
 
Nocella was terrific in the circle on her Senior Day for Roger Williams in game one, going the distance allowing two runs, both earned, on six hits and a walk to improve to 6-11. Fleming matched her showing in the second contest, going all seven innings allowing a pair of runs on five hits and no walks to move to 2-8.
 
While Jenny Jacob (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) ended up pitching a majority of game one, Julia Newcomb (Raynham, Mass.) got the start and only got one out while allowing three runs on three hits and a walk to take the loss and fall to 0-2. Kennedy Reyes (Taunton, Mass.) got the nod in game two and pitched six innings allowing three runs but only one was earned on six hits and a walk. She took the tough-luck loss to fall to 4-3.
 
Hawk Highlights
Game 1
Taylor Howell: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 RBI
Isabelle Rosado: 2-for-3, RS
Sydney Provencal: 1-for-3, RS
Madison Tobin: 1-for-2, SB, BB
 
Lia Nocella: (W, 6-11), 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
 
For The Opponents
Jolie Quintana: 2-for-3, SB, 2 RBI
Bianca Luciano: 1-for-2, SB, BB, 2 RS
Ally Ciforatta: 1-for-3
Ava Brandow: 1-for-3
 
Julia Newcomb: (L, 0-2), 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
Jenny Jacob: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K
 
How It Happened
The opening frame would be an eventful one in the first game. In the top of the first, Suffolk jumped on Lia Nocella (Tyngsboro, Mass.) as Bianca Luciano (New City, N.Y.) worked a five-pitch walk and stole second. She came across the plate on single up the middle by Jolie Quintana (Lynn, Mass.) and the guests had a lead before Roger Williams even got to bat.
 
The Hawks had an answer though against Julia Newcomb (Raynham, Mass.). Sydney Provencal (Cumberland, R.I.) led off by floating a single over third and Isabelle Rosado (Central Islip, N.Y.) ripped a single back through the box to put two runners on. They each advanced on a wild pitch and Taylor Howell (Sandwich Mass.) would come through, thrusting the hosts in front by scorching a double down the leftfield line to plate both runners. Following a mound visit, Kaylin Fehan (Plymouth, Mass.) entered to run and advanced on a passed ball as Madison Tobin (Pittsfield, Mass.) drew ball four after the first out was recorded. The Rams finally made a change as they rotated some things defensively to bring Jenny Jacob (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) on to pitch from first base. While she would not allow any other runners to reach, the Hawks got one more run by executing a first-and-third double steal to take a 3-1 advantage.
 
After escaping the first inning jam, Jacob would shut it down for the visitors, but it did not matter as Nocella would also do her part to make the lead stand for RWU. Suffolk got one back in the third as once again Luciano singled, advanced to second, this time on a wild pitch, and then crossed the plate on a single by Quintana.
 
The Hawks very nearly allowed it to slip away in the seventh though. Jacob led off with a single into right and Diana Rucinski (Milltown, N.J.) entered to run. She advanced on a groundout but a pop out to right got the Rams to their final out. Pinch hitter Ella Turnbull (Murrieta, Calif.) hit a slow roller towards the middle that Maddie Predaris (Rye, N.H.) could not field cleanly but on the bobble, Rucinski tried to dash to the plate. Predaris realized it, scooping the loose ball and throwing a perfect strike to the plate where Francesca Cioffi (Brewster, N.Y.) would apply the tag to end the ball game and secure the 3-2 win.
 
Game 2
Sydney Provencal: 2-for-2, 2B, BB, RS
Isabelle Rosado: 2-for-3, SB, RS
Maddie Predaris: 1-for-3
Francesca Cioffi: 1-for-3
 
Ellie Fleming: (W, 2-8), 7.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
 
For The Opponents
Savannah Scripter: 2-for-3, 2 RBI
Bianca Luciano: 1-for-3, RS
Rebecca Gonzalez: 1-for-3, RS
Ava Brandow: 1-for-3
 
Kennedy Reyes: (L, 4-3), 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
 
How It Happened
After positioning themselves to steal a postseason berth with the game one victory, Roger Williams would punch their ticket in the second contest. The Hawks grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first against Kennedy Reyes (Taunton, Mass.). Sydney Provencal (Cumberland, R.I.) once again got things started by recording a well-placed double down the rightfield line. Isabelle Rosado (Central Islip, N.Y.) followed by legging out an infield single into the shortstop hole as Provencal advanced 60 feet. The Hawks would then get a little help scoring the runs. Rosado stole second and the throw went through to second prompting Provencal to give it a look, but she did not dart for home. Upon receiving the throw, shortstop Rebecca Gonzalez (Haskell, N.J.) looked towards third and thought she had a chance to back pick Provencal, but she ended up throwing the ball away and through the gap in the fence next to the RWU dugout. The ball was ruled out of play and the umpires awarded Provencal to score as well as Rosado since she occupied second at the time of the ball exiting play and the hosts had the lead, 2-0.
 
Suffolk would get even in the third. Gonzalez leadoff with a single through the left side of the infield and Bianca Luciano (New City, N.Y.) followed with a soft comebacker though slipped through the legs of Ellie Fleming (Marshfield, Mass.) and everyone was safe. Jolie Quintana (Lynn, Mass.) then rolled one to short and while she may have been able to start a double play, Maddie Predaris (Rye, N.H.) quadruple pumped but was still able to get the out at first. Savannah Scripter (Lancaster, Calif.) plated both runs by ripping a single up the middle and the score was even at two.
 
Outside of the first and third innings for Reyes and Fleming respectively, both pitchers were outstanding in the game as it would eventually require a defensive gaff to break the stalemate and it would be the Hawks who would catch the break. Francesca Cioffi (Brewster, N.Y.) and Predaris notched back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth then the second out of the inning was recorded setting the stage for Alexandra Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.). She would pop one up but in a year that has seen virtually every break go against RWU, they finally got one to go their way and Ally Ciforatta (Cicero, N.Y.) dropped the ball. Caroline Thomas (Cranston, R.I.), who pinch ran for Cioffi, was off on contact and managed to beat the play at the plate and the hosts got the sliver of luck they were looking for.
 
The Rams got the tying run to second when Jenny Jacob (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) reached on and error, was pinch run for by Haley Oteri (Everett, Mass.), and they sacrifice bunted her up 60 feet, but Fleming worked around it, fanning a pinch hitter before Gonzalez popped out to shallow center. Jubilation ensued as the dugout poured to the center of the diamond as Roger Williams dramatically secured a conference tournament berth with the win, 3-2.
 
What's Next
Roger Williams will enter the postseason as the eighth seed and they will have a tough task to open their postseason, drawing Endicott College on Wednesday. The tournament is a double-elimination format, the start time for game one has yet to be announced.