Softball Extends Winning Streak to Ten After Sweep of Leopards in CCC Play

BOSTON, Mass. (April 3, 2022) – The Western New England Softball team pick up another two wins in doubleheader action against the Wentworth Institute of Technology Leopards, with 6-2 and 10-2 final scores and the Golden Bears move their winning streak to 10.

Records:

• Western New England: 13-6
• Wentworth Institute: 12-8

Game 1: Western New England 6, Wentworth Institute 2

The Golden Bears opened the top of the first inning with three quick outs and Wentworth picked up a run on two hits in the bottom to give them a 1-0 lead. With Kailey Carrano on second and Alex Ferriouolo on first, Cori Rizzo hit a Sac Bunt that was grounded out while the two advanced. They both scored after Paige Baca advanced to first on a fielding error by the shortstop, and the Golden Bears took the lead for a 2-1 score in the top of the second inning. The Leopards had a fly out and two strikeouts to close out the second. The third inning had zero hits or runs for either team. Wentworth picked up another hit in the bottom of the fourth but still did not complete another run.

In the top of the fifth, the Golden Bears really increased their game lead going for four runs in four hits. After Madison Mason was walked, Alyssa Poisson pinch ran for her. She stole third after advancing to second and reached home plate on a wild pitch. Dina DiBlasio hit a Sac fly with bases loaded and Carrano collected two RBIs immediately after. The Golden Bears led 6-1 entering the bottom of the inning. There was not another completed run until the bottom of the seventh. The Leopards Alexandra Pina earned an RBI on a double, but the team already had two outs and picked up the third after the RBI to end the ballgame. The Golden Bears win 6-2.

Inside The Diamond:

• Western New England's Kailey Carrano was 2-4, collected two RBIs and completed a run. Taylor Keegan was also 2-4 and earned a run.
• Starting Pitcher Ava Blanchard pitched in six innings and earned the win. She faced 25 batters, had six strikeouts, allowing six hits and one run. Relief Pitcher Ava Hilaire pitched in the last inning, got one strikeout, allowed three hits and one run.
• The Golden Bears scored six runs in seven hits, giving up two runs in nine hits.  

Game 2: Western New England 10, Wentworth Institute 2

There was not a completed run until the bottom of the fourth and very few hits on the game. Wentworth picked up two runs on two hits, and one WNE error. The Leopards Aurora Wilk picked up an RBI before they got their third out. The Golden Bears answered with three runs in the top of the fifth. After Cori Rizzo was grounded out, Taylor Keegan earned an RBI on a single up the middle as Paige Baca ran past home from second base. Dina DiBlasio hit her second Sac fly of the day to take Maggie Marquardt home. Their last run in the top of the inning came from Keegan, unearned. In the bottom, Wentworth had two hits and no runs, and WNE kept their 3-2 lead. Gracie Hemstock was in to pinch hit for Lizzie Weston and got hit by the Leopards pitcher to advance to first, and Amaya George came in to pinch run for Hemstock. After Rizzo was walked, Baca struck out looking, but both George and Rizzo advanced on the passed ball.  Marquardt also hit a Sac fly before the Golden Bears picked up their last out. They were ahead 4-2 entering the bottom. The Leopards had one hit and then three consecutive outs to take the ball game into the seventh.  

The Golden Bears with impressive play compiled six more runs in the top of the seventh. The first two batters picked up outs for WNE and then Kailey Carrano was hit by the pitch. Alex Ferriouolo followed with a single to left field, and Alyssa Poisson, who was pinch running for Ferriouolo, advance to second. Weston reached first on a throwing error by the shortstop and then she was off to second. Poisson made it to home base and Ferriouolo advance to third. Rizzo was walked again, and the Golden Bears had the bases loaded. The base running  for the WNE was elite in the final stretch of the top of the inning. Baca, up to bat, reached first on a fielding error, and both Ferriouolo and Weston scored unearned. Baca then stole second, Marquardt reached first, and a throwing error brought her to second while Baca and Rizzo both completed runs. Keegan picked up another RBI on a double to right field and the Golden Bears had taken complete control of the game with a 10-2 lead going into the bottom of the inning. The Leopards did not answer in the bottom and the Golden Bears walked away with two more wins with the final score of game two, 10-2.                                                                                    

Around The Diamond:

• Western New England's Taylor Keegan was 2-5 in the second game on the day, she collected two RBIs and completed a run.
• Both Dina DiBlasio and Maggie Marquardt had Sac Flies and Marquardt completed two runs.
• Western New England scored 10 runs in seven hits on the game.
• Starting Pitcher Megan Beebe collected the win, pitching in all seven innings, faced 30 batters with two strikeouts, allowed seven hits and two runs.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears return to their home field Tuesday, April 5, where they take on Springfield College in doubleheader action for a 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. start time.
• Wentworth is back home for their next pair of games against Gordon College Friday, April 8 for a 3:30 and 5:30 game time.