Carrano Breaks Single-Season and Career Home Run Records in Setback at Salve Regina

Newport, R.I. (May 2, 2023) – WNE looked to extend their win streak on the road in Newport at Salve Regina University. The doubleheader had been postponed twice, but finally, the weather cooperated, and the teams played ball. Game one was a nailbiter that went back and forth but saw Salve Regina get a walk-off single for the win 3-2. Game two saw a record-breaking home run from Kailey Carrano, but the Seahawks took the win 9-5.

Game 1: Salve Regina 3, Western New England 2

Game one was a pitching duel for most of the game. Megan Beebe started the game with ten pitches and ten strikes. Skylar Wicklund kept the Golden Bears hitless for the first two innings. Western New England would get a two-out rally going and load the bases, but Wicklund was there to shut the door and force a fly ball to right field for the final out of the top of the third inning. Beebe kept the Seahawks off the bases in the bottom of the inning. The top of the fourth inning saw the Golden Bears put two on base, but again Wicklund would dig in and keep WNE from getting on the scoreboard. Beebe stayed strong in the bottom of the fourth, and for the third straight inning, no runs and no hits for the Seahawks. The scoring would begin in the top of the fifth inning. Kaleigh Blades sent a rocket to left-center field. Blades was moved to third by Taylor Keegan. Then, a Dina DiBlasio ground ball to second base brought Blades home to give the Golden Bears a 1-0 lead. Salve Regina would grab a hit in the bottom of the fifth inning but would not get a run against Beebe.

However, that would not be the case for much longer as the sixth inning proved to be the Seahawks' inning. Kylie Lanteri got it started for Salve Regina with a single that got bobbled and brought Jacey Cosciello through home. Lanteri would get to third on the play. The next batter, Christina Braid, singled hard up the middle off Beebe's glove. That brought Lanteri home. After six innings of play, the score was 2-1, with the Seahawks in the lead. The Golden Bears would not go down without a fight, though. Blades would walk to start the inning and then steal second. Keegan would poke a shot to right field, and that would get caught, but with some help, Blades was able to get home and tie the game at two. That was it for the top of the inning. The Seahawks would enter the bottom of the inning looking to walk it off. With runners on first and third, with two outs, Cosciello put a hit down that dribbled toward third. By the time WNE could make a play, Cosciello was already at first, and the Seahawks had the lead and the win in game one. The final score was 3-2.

Inside The Diamond:

• Megan Beebe pitched all seven innings. Beebe let up three runs on five hits and struck out four batters.
• Madison Mason and Alex Ferriouolo both went 2-3 in game one.
• Kaleigh Blades went 1-2 with a walk and a double.
• Jacey Cosciello went 2-3 with an RBI, which won the game for the Seahawks.
• Salve Regina won game one 3-2.

Game 2: Salve Regina 9 Western New England 5

The Golden Bears looked to rebound from a tough game-one loss. It started early in the first inning as Gracie Hemstockslapped a single toward the shortstop. Paige Baca flew home on the play. Then, Alex Ferriouolo mimicked Hemstock with a hit to shortstop, bringing DiBlasio past home plate. The Golden Bears were out to a quick 2-0 lead. However, Salve Regina was not taking their foot off the pedal after game one. After a Morgan Bello triple, Jayce Cosciello grounded out to shortstop, but it was enough to bring Bello home for the Seahawks' first run of the game. Then, with a runner on second base, Maddie Capetta drove a single into center field to make the score 2-2 after one inning of play.

The second inning would be quiet, but the Seahawks would make more noise in the bottom of the third inning. Christina Braid singled through the right side of the infield. Cosciello and Bello would travel home on the hit, and the score was 4-2. The game would settle down in the fourth with no runs being scored, but then WNE would get the game started again. It came from a Kailey Carrano record-breaking home run in the top of the fifth inning. Kailey Carrano's blast gives her the single-season home run record and the career home run record. That made the score 4-3. After Ava Blanchard held the Seahawks off the board in the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Bears struck again in the sixth. Paige Baca Hit a shot to right field with two outs. It was bounced off the right fielder's glove, and Rizzo scored to tie the game at four. Then, Dina DiBlasio launched a two-out double that hit the fence on the fly and brought Baca home. That gave the Golden Bears the lead once again in game number two. Unfortunately, that lead would not hold for long. WNE got the Seahawks to give up one out, but Slave Regina got one runner on, then the next, and eventually, the bases were loaded for Cosciello. Cosciello slapped a single through the infield's left side, bringing a runner home to tie the game at five. Then, a passed ball would bring home one more for the lead, and the Seahawks would not look back. Lanteri doubled down the right-field line, and that cleared the bases. The score was 8-5. Then, Bean would single up the middle to extend the lead to four. After the Seahawks were able to get the Golden Bears to go three up, three down in the bottom of the seventh inning, the game was over, and the Seahawks swept the Golden Bears by winning game two 9-5.

Inside The Diamond:

• Ava Blanchard pitched 5.1 innings, let up nine runs and eight hits, striking out three batters.
• Kailey Carrano went 3-4 with a home run in the fifth inning.
• Paige Baca and Dina DiBlasio both went 2-4 with a double
• Gracie Hemstock went 2-4, as well. Hemstock picked up an RBI too.
• Morgan Bello went 3-4 with a triple for the Seahawks.
• The Seahawks won 9-5 to complete the sweep.

Up Next: 

WNE will return to action on Saturday, May 6, finishing their regular season with a doubleheader against Suffolk at home. The games will be at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.

Salve Regina will head to Wentworth for their final doubleheader of the regular season. Those games will also be on Saturday, May 6, at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.