BRISTOL, R.I. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team opened both its northern and Commonwealth Coast Conference schedules on Saturday with a doubleheader at Roger Williams. The Leopards fell in the first game, 7-2, before dropping the nightcap, 10-2, in five innings.
Game One: Roger Williams 7, Wentworth 2
Wentworth took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as junior Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) drew a one-out walk and went to second on an error when classmate Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice. Junior Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass.) followed with a walk to load the bases and senior Kelsey Gorski (Killingworth, Conn.) grounded out to score Weymouth.
Roger Williams tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from senior Julianne Vesce (Mahwah, N.J.) and went ahead 2-1 an inning later when freshman Tara Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.) singled in freshman Taylor Chatowsky (North Kingstown, R.I.), who had hit a one-out triple.
The Leopards took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, thanks to a Willcutt groundout. Freshman Rebecca Wehrle (South Amboy, N.J.) and went to second on a wild pitch. Wehrle stole third with one out and came around to score when Willcutt grounded out. The Hawks took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double from Vesce and an RBI groundout by senior Mikaela Grosso (West Warwick, R.I.).
Roger Williams tacked on a run in the fourth on an RBI single from junior Haley Ledbetter (Westerly, R.I.) and added two more in the fifth when Taylor Chatowsky had an RBI single and Tara Chatowsky had an RBI groundout.
Sophomore Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) took the loss (0-4). Wehrle, Berryman, sophomore Libby White (Pittsfield, Mass.), and sophomore Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) each had a hit for the Black & Gold.
Game 2: Roger Williams 10, Wentworth 2 (5 innings)
Roger Williams struck for five runs in the top of the first inning as freshman Maddie Reis (Warren, R.I.) drew a bases-loaded walk and junior Valeria Moran (Syosset, N.Y.) followed with a two-run single. The Hawks other two runs in the inning came with two outs when senior Alicia McCauley (North Reading, Mass.) reached on an error.
The third inning saw the Hawks take an 8-0 lead on a two-run single from senior Meredith Moise (North Reading, Mass.) and an RBI single from Reis.
Wentworth plated a pair of runs in the top of the fifth as Gorski led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch. After White walked, Rutkey grounded out to move both runners up. Sophomore Emily Winter (Stratford, Conn.) singled in Gorski and, after Wehrle walked with two outs, White scored on a passed ball.
Roger Williams ended the game in the home half of the fifth as Ledbetter and freshman Alexa Califano (Dix Hills, N.Y.) hit back-to-back triples and a sacrifice fly from Moran rounded out the scoring.
Wehrle, Gorski, and Winter each had a hit for the Leopards while Rutkey took the loss (0-4).
Wentworth hosts Curry Sunday afternoon in its home opener.
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