NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team split a pair of games at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Leopards opened the trip with a 9-3 victory over SUNY Poly before dropping a 10-5 decision to Medaille College.
GAME ONE – Wentworth 9, SUNY Poly 3
The Leopards ripped ten hits and scored in all but one inning to down the Wildcats in their season debut. Sophomore Deanna DiPilato (Worcester, Mass.) drove home three runs for Wentworth, while freshman Brionna Myers (Seabrook, N.H.) swung into two RBI's of her own on a two-for-three performance from the plate. Senior Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) was Wentworth's lone extra-base hitter, swinging into a double, with an RBI.
The Leopards led the Wildcats 4-0 after three innings, before SUNY Poly tacked on a run to break the shutout in the bottom of the third. In their next at-bat, Wentworth added a pair of runs, one driven in by DiPilato, before Myers scored on a bases-loaded situation for a 7-1 lead. SUNY Poly cracked a double to bring in two runs to cut the deficit to four, 7-3, but Myers gave Wentworth two more runs in its last at-bat, scoring senior Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) and sophomore Molly Biega (Old Lyme, Conn.) on a deep double.
Freshman Kayla DeMedeiros pitched a complete game, the first of her collegiate career, and allowed just four hits and three runs, while striking out four batters.
GAME TWO - Medaille 10, Wentworth 5
The Mavericks got off to a hot start in game two, tacking on three runs on the first before the Leopards responded with four runs over the middle three innings. After Wentworth scored on a throwing error from the Medaille infield, Myers and Winter drove home a run apiece in the third and fourth innings to knot the score 3-3. In the top of the fifth, DeMedeiros cracked a double to score Myers on the play, and led the Mavericks 4-3, but a five-run innings by Medaille set the Mavericks too far from reach for the 10-5 final.
Joining DeMedeiros on extra-base hitting was junior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.), who also roped a double on a two-for-three performance at the plate. Winter drove home two runs in the effort, while DiPilato recorded an RBI of her own.
Myers took the loss on the hill in 4.2 innings pitched, allowing nine hits and five earned runs. DeMedeiros pitched 1.1 innings of relief, and allowed three hits, and two earned runs.
Wentworth is back in action today at 11:30 a.m. against Mount Aloysius.
For the latest on Wentworth Athletics, follow the Leopards via social media on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Fans can also download the Wentworth Leopards "Front Row" mobile app, powered by PrestoSports, on iTunes and the Android Market.