Blades' Walk-Off Single Seals Doubleheader Sweep Over Suffolk

Springfield, Mass. (May 6, 2023) – The Golden Bears returned to Golden Bear Park after a tough road trip on Tuesday to Salve Regina. With this being the final two games for the Golden Bears, they were looking to take care of the Rams from Suffolk University and secure the two-seed in the CCC tournament. Game one saw the Rams grab a two-run lead, but the Golden Bears fought back and won it 5-2. Game two saw fireworks at the end, with Kaleigh Blades hitting a walk-off single to help the Golden Bears win 5-4.

Game 1: Western New England 5, Suffolk 2

Megan Beebe started game one for the Golden Bears in the circle. Ava Brandow, the Rams pitcher, opposed Beebe. Both pitchers dealt with the opposing team's first three batters. However, the Rams would strike in the second inning. It all started with a first-pitch home run from Suffolk's Savannah Scripter, who launched a hit over the right-field fence. Then, Catherine Carignan would single into center field, bringing home Brandow, who also had a hit for the Rams. The score after the top half of the second inning was 2-0. The Golden Bears could not answer in the second inning, but the third was their inning. 

It all started with Paige Baca singing to right field. That did not just score one, but both Keegan and Rizzo would come home, and the score was tied at two. Then, the next batter, Dina DiBlasio, reached base on an error, and with the runner going on anything, Baca was able to score from second on the play. The Golden Bears led 3-2 after three innings of play. Both pitchers would then duel for the fourth inning, and after Beebe shut down the Rams in the top of the fifth, DiBlasio would double in the bottom half of the inning to bring Taylor Keegan home. The score now reads 4-2. Beebe would take care of the top part of the sixth inning, and her offense would come through to give another insurance run. Keegan singled to the shortstop, bringing Ferriouolo home and stretching the lead to three runs with a score of 5-2. Beebe would shut down the Rams for the fifth straight inning, and the Golden Bears took game one by a score of 5-2.

Inside The Diamond:

• Megan Beebe pitched a complete game for the Golden Bears, letting up six hits and striking out three batters.
• Gracie Hemstock and Taylor Keegan went 2-3, with Keegan also forcing a walk and getting an RBI.
• Dina DiBlasio had the only extra-base hit for the Golden Bears with a double.
• Savannah Scripter went 3-3 for the Rams with a home run in the first at-bat.
• The Golden Bears took game one by a score of 5-2

Game 2: Western New England 5, Suffolk 4

Game two saw a pitching battle between Ava Blanchard versus Ashlyn Conley. Again, the Rams got out to a hot start in the second inning. After both pitchers handled the other team in the first inning, Ally Cifaratta got the Rams on the board. Cifaratta singled up the middle of the infield and brought Brandow home. The score was 1-0. However, that was only the case briefly, as Cori Rizzo doubled to right-center field, and Ferriouolo would come home to tie the game up at 1-1. The Rams were not phased, though. Scripter continued a great day at the plate with a single to center field, bringing Ira Boci and Maddie Southers home. The Rams now led 3-1 after three innings of play.

The Golden Bears would cut that deficit in half in the fourth inning when Kaleigh Blades slapped a shot at third. However, the ram at third could not field it cleanly, and the score was 3-2. The bottom of the fifth was also a strong one for the Golden Bears. Alex Ferriouolo doubled to left-center field, and that brought Dina DiBlasio home. That tied the game at three and brought even more life into the Golden Bear dugout. 

The Rams would not go away; however, Savannah Scripter did it again with a groundout that brought a runner home and gave the Rams the one-run lead. The Golden Bears went into the bottom of the seventh inning down one, but the inning started hot with a Dina DiBlasio single. Ava Brandow had entered the game to pitch again for the Rams. After an out, Hemstock singled up the middle and put runners on first and second. After another out, Cori Rizzo worked a walk, and Madison Mason stood at the plate. After battling to a full count, Mason worked the walk, and that brought home DiBlasio. The score was 4-4, and Blades walked up to bat. Blades stepped up and hit a rocket toward left field. It would bring Pisson home, who pinch-ran for Hemstock, and the Golden Bears would take the doubleheader sweep in walk-off fashion with a 5-4 win against the Rams of Suffolk University.

Inside The Diamond:

• Ava Blanchard pitched six innings for the Golden Bears. Blanchard let up seven hits but struck out nine Ram batters. Kane entered for an inning of relief and was credited with the win.
• Dina DiBlasio went 2-4 with two singles.
• Alex Ferriouolo went 3-4 with two doubles.
• Gracie Hemstock went 2-4 with two singles.
• Kaleigh Blades went 1-3, but that was the walk off single to win the game.
• The Golden Bears won game two by a score of 5-4.

Up Next: 

The Golden Bears will head into the CCC tournament as the two-seed and will host one side of the tournament bracket with the three, six, and seven seeds on their side of the bracket. Those games will start on Wednesday.