BEVERLY, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Softball team rallied to come from behind in the bottom of the sixth inning, with
Hailey Williams (Vernon, Conn.) hitting a two-run home run, to overcome a 1-0 deficit, to take their first game of the Conference of New England (CNE) Softball Tournament, 2-1, over Johnson & Wales Thursday.
Roger Williams was out hit 5-4 in the game, while holding the Wildcats to one run with nine stranded on bases. The Hawks had two left on base.
Raegen Germano (Old Tappan, N.J.) moved to 12-4 on the year, throwing 118 pitches in 7.0 innings of work, striking out nine with five walks, and five hits, facing 31 batters, without an earned run. Jill Reed fell in the circle for Johnson & Wales, falling to 13-5 on the year, with 6.0 innings of work on 64 pitches, while seeing five go down on strikes, allowing four hits, a pair of runs, both earned.
At the plate, four Hawks picked up a knock, with Williams,
Kayleigh O'Connor (Southington, Conn.),
Madison Tucholski (Massapequa, N.Y.), and
Grace Forsythe (Woburn, Mass.) each earning a hit. Forsythe came across the plate with a walk and also had a sacrifice bunt, while O'Connor hit a double.
After only one runner reached in the first two innings, the Wildcats were the first to strike with Jadyn Torres reaching on a two-run bunt single in the top half of the third. Jessica Forneiro followed with a bunt single of her own to put runners on first and third. With a passed ball, placing Forneiro on second, the Hawks elected to intentionally walk the batter before Germano struck out Ashley Bergeron to end the threat.
The Wildcats came up in the top of the fourth, with Gabby Bellamore hitting a single to right center, with two outs, and was followed by Olivia Mason reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop, but Germano was able to get a force out with a pop up to first to end the inning.
In the top half of the fifth, Johnson & Wales struck first, with Torres drawing a leadoff walk after working a full count. Forneiro then was out on a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error by Williams allowed Torres to come around to score on the error. Mady Lyons drew a walk, but Bergeron was able to force a grounder to short for the double play.
After the bottom of the fifth and top of the sixth, both saw both teams leave a runner on, the Hawks came up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth. Forcythe hit a single down the left field line, to reach as the leadoff hitter. Williams then followed, working a 3-1 count after a first pitch strike. On the fifth pitch of the at-bat, Williams hammered a ball over the left center field, into the walks at the Endicott Softball Complex, to give the Hawks the lead.
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the seventh, with Cardiello hitting a lead-off single to left field. Torres then put down a successful sacrifice bunt, with Abby Nersesian, who pinch ran for Cardiello, reaching second. After a strikeout, the Hawk selected to intentionally walk Lyons before forcing a flyout by Bergeron to end the game.
Roger Williams (25-13, 13-7 CNE) will face No. 1-seeded Endicott on Friday, May 8 at 1:00 p.m., with the Hawks looking for a trip to the Championship Series with a win. The losing team will then face either Johnson & Wales or Hartford, with the opponent being decided in the late game on Thursday.
