SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team dropped a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) contests to Western New England University on Saturday afternoon at Golden Bear Park.
The Leopards drop to 8-17 overall and 1-9 in league play, while the Golden Bears win their fourth straight at 15-11 this season and 8-2 against league opponents.
GAME ONE – Western New England: 8 Wentworth: 0
The Golden Bears pushed five runs across the opening two innings to take an early substantial lead on the Leopards. Sophomore Paige Uliase (Meriden, Conn.) got the offense going on a two-out single to center field in the bottom of the first, driving in two runs on the play before freshman Cassidy Howe (North Andover, Mass.) drove home Uliase for the 3-0 lead. Sophomore pitcher Aimee Kistner (Taunton, Mass.) dropped the Leopards in order in the top of the second, before the Golden Bears tacked on two more runs, again with two outs down, on a two-RBI single from sophomore Tori Fisher (Poestenkill, N.Y.).
Wentworth swung into both of its hits in the top of the third, starting with a base hit from freshman Kacey Russo (East Walpole, Mass.). Kelsey Gorski (Killingworth, Conn.) moved Russo over to third on a groundout to the pitcher, before freshman Brionna Myers (Seabrook, N.H.) singled up the middle. Sharp defense from the Golden Bears caught Russo going home on the Myers base knock, as Western New England added a single run across final three innings, respectively, highlighted by a leadoff homer from Kistner in the sixth.
The Golden Bears recorded 11 hits in the win, led by Kistner's dinger on a 2-for-3 showing at the plate with two RBI.
Kistner also did her job on the hill for the victors, and tossed a complete game with just two hits, while striking out six batters. Myers took the loss for Wentworth, allowing 11 hits, eight runs (six earned) and four walks.
GAME TWO – Western New England: 6 Wentworth: 0
The hosts limited Wentworth to just three hits in the nightcap, while the Golden Bears recorded nine of their own, and another home run, this time by senior Jenn Luba (Plymouth, Conn.) in the fourth. Western New England sophomore pitcher Uliase downed the Leopards in order in the top of the first, before the hosts got the offense going early again with two runs. Uliase swung into a bases-loaded single down the left field line to give the Golden Bears a 2-0 lead after one.
In the bottom of the third, Western New England pushed three more runs across, highlighted by a two-RBI single to right from Allie Buzzeo (Stamford, Conn.). The Golden Bears finished with a leadoff homer from Luba in the bottom of the fourth to secure the CCC sweep.
DeMedeiros, Berryman, and Shea each recorded a hit for Wentworth in the deficit.
Uliase earned the win on 4.0 innings pitched with four strikeouts and just two hits, while freshman Heather Hassler (Oxford, Conn.) and senior Emily Cramer (Stoughton, Mass.) each came in as relievers. DeMedeiros struck out four batters in the effort, but suffered the loss on three earned runs, nine hits, and six walks.
Wentworth returns to action at Carr Diamond on Tuesday for a makeup game vs. Mount Ida.
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