Rizzo's Two Run Single Sinks Carthage as WNE Split on Day Two

Clermont, Fla. (March 12, 2023) – The Golden Bears split their doubleheader on Sunday after winning both games on Saturday. They took down Carthage in the day's first game by a score of 4-2. However, they ran into Kennedy Carruth and the Belhaven Blazers in the second game, who beat them 4-1. 

Game 1: Western New England 4, Carthage 2

Megan Beebe took the mound for the second day in a row in the first game of day 2. The Golden Bears helped her out by starting the runs early. After juicing the bases, Gracie Hemstock stood in the box and got hit by a pitch, which brought Keegan home. The Carthage would answer in the bottom of the inning. Gracie Vlach hit a double, which brought home Clare Rettler. However, Beebe would lock in after the double and retire the side. The next run would come in the bottom of the fifth. Beebe had shut Carthage down for most of the game, but Rettler would bring home Bennet with the bases juiced. That would be the last run of the game for Carthage.

The Golden Bears' offense roared to life in the top of the sixth inning. Kaleigh Blades smacked a single to center field, which scored Cori Rizzo. Then, in the top of the seventh inning, with the score tied 2-2, Rizzo got a single of her own. That single brought home Mason and DiBlasio to give the Golden Bears the 4-2 advantage going into the bottom of the seventh. Beebe would go back to the mound for the final inning. She got two players to fly and pop out, respectively. Then, with a runner stealing second, Madison Mason threw a rocket to Alex Ferriouolo for the tag-out and the win. WNE beat Carthage 4-2.

Inside The Diamond:

• Dina DiBlasio had another great outing as she went 3-4 and scored a run.
• Rizzo and Blades each went 2-4. Rizzo had a double and two RBIs. Blades batted in a run, as well. 
• Megan Beebe pitched seven innings, only giving up three hits and striking out seven batters.
• The Golden Bears won 4-2.

Game 2: Belhaven 4, Western New England 1

Riley Kane took the mound for the Golden Bears in their second of two games on Sunday. Kane's counterpart in the other dugout was Kennedy Carruth. Both pitchers kept the game scoreless through four innings of play. The Blazers of Belhaven would open up the scoring in the fifth inning. Allie Gordon smacked a bases-clearing double with two outs in the inning. McNeer and Kanipe were the runners that scored on the hit. The score was now 2-0. The core stayed that way until the top of the seventh when the Blazers got two more. With runners on second and third, Gordon struck again with a bases-clearing single against the relief pitcher, Ava Blanchard. With Warren and Kanipe scoring on the hit, the Blazers now led 4-0.

However, the Golden Bears would not go down in the bottom of the seventh without a fight. Dina DiBlasio started the inning with a single. Ines Baez Flores would pinch run and steal second. Then, Gracie Hemstock drew a walk. Shea McDaniel would come in as a pinch runner. Flores would steal third, as well. With runners on first and third, the ball got past the catcher, and Flores scored. That score was 4-1 with one out in the final inning of play. Carruth would settle down and strike out the final two Golden Bear batters to end the game at a final score of 4-1.

Around The Diamond:

• Allie Gordon went 3-4 for the Blazers, knocking in all four runs for the team.
• Kennedy Carruth pitched all seven innings for the Blazers. Carruth faced 24 batters and struck out 14. 
• The Golden Bears scored one run on three hits, leaving three runners on base. 
• The Blazers scored four runs on six hits, leaving six runners on base.
• The final score saw the Blazers win by a score of 4-1.

Up Next: The Golden Bears are back in action tomorrow, March 13. They will start the day at 11:30 AM when they take on the Pioneers of Carroll University (Wisconsin). The Golden Bears will finish the day against SUNY Oswego at 2:00 PM. 

Carthage took on Mount St. Mary in the afternoon game today, March 12. They will be in action again tomorrow, March 13, against Plymouth State University at 2:00 PM and Simpson College at 4:30 PM. Belhaven will return to action on Tuesday, March 14, as they meet up with Plymouth State at 1:00 PM and Carroll University at 3:30 PM.