BOSTON, Mass. - The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team dropped a pair of contests against the University of New England in the Commonwealth Coast Conference openers for both teams on Wednesday afternoon. The Leopards fell 15-2 in the first game and dropped the nightcap by a score of 9-1.
The Nor'Easters improve to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in league play while Wentworth falls to 4-6 (0-2).
GAME ONE: University of New England 15, Wentworth 2 (5 innings)
A single by sophomore Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass) and sacrifice fly from freshman Kathleen Dunn (Hull, Mass.) gave Wentworth a quick 2-1 edge over UNE after the first frame. The lead was short-lived as UNE's offense scored three-plus in each of the following innings.
The Nor'easters took advantage of defensive mishaps and powered seven runs to give them the 13-2 edge after four. A single to left field from the bat of junior Paige Moore-Haskell (Scarborough, Maine) plated the final two UNE runs to seal the game at 15-2.
Freshman Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) gave up 13 runs (11 earned) on nine hits through 4.1 innings, while she walked seven batters and struck out two. Freshman Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass) pitched .2 innings of relief and allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit and walked one. Senior Heather Pinkston (Concord, Calif.) led the Black & Gold, going 2-for-3 with one run.
Senior Abby Lambert pitched a solid three innings and allowed two runs on five hits while she walked and struck out one. Freshman Melissa Sprague (Londonderry, N.H.) pitched two innings of relief and punched out two batters. Freshman Caroline Schoenbucher (Barrington, N.H.) went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Moore-Haskell and junior Sydney Helmbrecht (Grand Rapids, Minn.) notched three RBI.
GAME TWO: University of New England 9, Wentworth 1 (5 innings)
UNE knocked in five runs through the first two frames which gave them a speedy 5-0 advantage that was capped off by an inside-the-park homer by freshman Avery Alberghini (Middlesex, Vt.). Wentworth threatened with the bases full of Leopards with two outs in its half of the third, but failed to bring in the runners.
Two triples from freshman Andrea Gosper (Richmond, R.I.) and senior Meghan Bolano (Wakefield, R.I.) highlighted a four-run attack for the Nor'easters in the fourth frame to give them a lengthy 9-0 lead.
Rutkey plated Wentworth's only run on a two-out bases loaded single up the middle, but a ground out would close the book on the Leopards as the Nor'easters ran away with the 9-1 five-inning triumph.
Norquist took the loss for the Leopards as she allowed nine runs (six earned) on 11 hits and walked two and struck out one. Senior Karsyn Sawyer (Chatham, N.Y.) and Rutkey led Wentworth with a combined 4-for-6 at the plate with one RBI.
Junior Katelyn Austin (Bethlehem, N.H.) improved to 3-1 after she allowed two hits through three innings, while she struck out and walked two batters. Freshman Sydnee Bessier (Everett, Mass.) pitched two relief innings and gave up one run on four hits while she struck out one. Lambert and Alberghini led the UNE offense, hitting a combined 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI.
Wentworth travels to Emmanuel on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. while UNE takes on St. Joseph's (Maine) on March 30 at 3:00 p.m.