DUDLEY, Mass. — No. 4 Roger Williams University rode a dominant pitching performance by Raegen Germano and timely contributions at the plate to shut out No. 6 Wentworth, 4-0, on Wednesday afternoon in the Conference of New England (CNE) Softball Tournament.
Germano (10-6) was masterful in the circle, tossing a complete-game four-hitter with four strikeouts and just two walks over seven scoreless innings. The Hawks defense backed her with a pair of double plays, including a clutch liner-turned-double play in the third to erase a leadoff single.
Offensively, Shannon Starratt led the Hawks (24-17) with a 2-for-3 performance, scoring twice and swiping a base. Lucy Maurao doubled in a run and scored, while Ashley Klingberg added an RBI single in the seventh. Christina Denovellis contributed a double and later scored as a pinch runner.
Wentworth (20-22, 9-9 CNE), saw Jess Rowe (5-5) stake the loss, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two walks and a strikeout over five innings. She also reached base with a single in the seventh inning. Lexi Lefkowski was the top performer at the plate for the Leopards, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a double in the sixth. Lauren Trostel added a single, and Katie Kranz contributed an early hit before being subbed out.
Roger Williams broke through in the third inning when Kayleigh O'Connor led off with a single. Maurao followed with an RBI double to left center, and after a single from Starratt and a stolen base, Hailey Williams grounded out to the pitcher to bring home Maurao, making it 2-0.
The Hawks extended their lead in the fifth as Starratt singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Caroline Thomas after a Wentworth throwing error kept the inning alive.
In the seventh, Denovellis doubled and was lifted for pinch runner McKenzie Foley, who eventually scored on Klingberg's two-out single to left center, capping the scoring at 4-0.
Roger Williams (24-17, 11-7 CNE) will face No. 2 Nichols in the final game of the day in the elimination bracket.
