Softball Takes Win-Or-Go-Home Game Against Wentworth 9-1, Move on to CCC Championship Series

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (May 12, 2023) – WNE welcomed the Wentworth Leopards once again for a win-or-go-home CCC tournament game, with the winner earning a spot in the CCC championship series. The Golden Bears took the win decisively by a score of 9-1 in five innings.

Game 1: Western New England 9, Wentworth 1

Ava Blanchard toed the rubber for the Golden Bears to start this must-win game four in the CCC tournament. Blanchard saw three batters in the first and sat them all down for a one, two, three opening inning. The Golden Bears rode that momentum to a big first inning of offense. A hit by Keegan and a bunt by Baca set DiBlasio up to send a shot up the middle of the infield and bring Keegan home to start the scoring. Then, Kailey Carrano slapped one to short right-center field, and it was caught, but it was far enough to bring Paige Baca home to double the Golden Bear lead. The score was 2-0 after one inning of play. Blanchard stayed strong in the second. She faced four batters, walked one, but got the other three out to end the inning. Erin Hancock, the Wentworth pitcher, let up a lead-off single but settled in and sat the Golden Bears down in order after that to keep the score locked at 2-0. Blanchard countered that performance with another three up, three down inning of her own, and the Golden Bears were back in the dugout looking to get more runs on the board with DiBlasio, Carrano, and Rizzo due up. DiBlasio and Carrano got on, and with runners on first and third, Cori Rizzo sent a hit at shortstop, who handled it, tossed the ball to second for the sure out, and it was a fielder's choice RBI for Cori Rizzo. The Golden Bears led 3-0 after three innings.

Wentworth would threaten in the fourth with runners getting on via an error and a walk, but they could not capitalize, and Blanchard would get out of the top of the fourth inning. The Golden Bears extended their three-run lead in the bottom of the inning. An error on a Dina DiBlasio fly ball to right field brought two runners through the home plate and pushed the lead to five. Then, Carrano slapped a single into left field, bringing another run home. The lead was made 6-0. That was followed by Madison Mason sending a hit toward shortstop, it was bobbled, and Mason got to first, and another run was home. Finally, Alex Ferriouolo slapped a shot to left-center field and brought one more run home to put the lead at 8-0 after the fourth inning was played. 

The Leopards grabbed a run back on the double by Pettenger in the top of the fifth inning, and that saved the Leopards from going home. However, that was only temporary as Dina DiBlasio sent a double to right-center field, bringing Keegan home to end the game 9-1 in the fifth inning to send the Golden Bears to the championship series against Endicott College.

Inside The Diamond:

• Dina DiBlasio went 3-4 with two RBIs and a double.
• Cori Rizzo went 2-3 with a double and an RBI.
• Kailey Carrano had two hits and two RBIs during the game.
• Ava Blanchard pitched five innings, letting up two hits and one run.
• The Golden Bears won the game 9-1.

Up Next: 

The Golden Bears will head to Endicott College on Saturday, May 13, at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM.