Softball Splits With Mount Ida

BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Kayla DeMedeiros (So. Dartmouth, Mass.) recorded four hits and two RBI to lead the Wentworth softball team a non-conference split with Mount Ida College Tuesday afternoon at Carr Diamond.

The Leopards shift to 9-18 overall, while the Mustangs move to 12-15 this season.

GAME ONE – Mount Ida: 11 Wentworth: 2 (Five Innings)

The Mustangs registered nine hits in the opener, including four multi-base performances, and a two-run homer from freshman Jill Skalski (Cranford, N.J.).

Both teams traded opening runs, starting with a two-out run from freshman Savannah Neilan (Somerset, Mass.) on a Wentworth miscue. The Leopards got one back in their first at-bat, as sophomore Deanna DiPilato (Worcester, Mass.) swung into a two-out single to right field, scoring senior Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) on the play for the 1-1 score. DeMedeiros followed DiPilato's lead with a roped double to left, but sharp defense from the Mustangs left runners on second and third.

Wentworth again had two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the second, but Mount Ida kept up its strong defense before adding four runs in the fourth. After Skalski led off with a double to left center, a single from junior Kristina Stella (Revere, Mass.) put runners on first and third. Wentworth freshman pitcher shut down the next two Mustangs in order, but Mount Ida would then score on a passed ball before a double from Shelby Nolan (Ansonia, Conn.) gave the Mustangs a 3-1 lead. Two Wentworth miscues ended the four-run side, as the Mustangs held a 5-1 lead before Wentworth got one back in the fourth. With sophomore Molly Biega (Old Lyme, Conn.) on second base after cracking a single to center, senior Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) drove Biega home for the 5-2 lead. This is as close as the Leopards would come, however, as Mount Ida exploded for six runs in the fifth to end the game on shortened time.

Six Leopards recorded a hit in the effort, led by a double from DeMedeiros and runs batted in from Willcutt and Dipilato.

Freshman Carrigan Costello (Wolcott, Conn.) earned the win on 4.0 innings tossed with two earned runs, two walks, and six hits.  Neilan pitched 1.0 innings of relief, striking out one batter, while Myers suffered the loss with nine hits, five earned runs, and three K's.

GAME TWO – Wentworth: 4 Mount Ida: 0

Roles reversed in the nightcap, as Wentworth cracked 11 hits, with four doubles and four RBI. Wentworth got the offense going early as Weymouth swung into a deep double to right, before junior Caroline Shea (Abington, Mass.) and DiPilato reached base on a Mustangs' error to load the bases for DeMedeiros. The freshman pitcher singled through the right side, leaving the bases loaded while scoring Weymouth for the 1-0 advantage.

In the top of the third, Mount Ida looked to get one back, as freshman Caitlin Hogan (Derry, N.H.) doubled and reached third on a Wentworth fielding error. DeMedeiros stood tall on the hill for Wentworth, however, and fanned the next two batters before the Leopards tacked on three more runs. DiPilato and DeMedeiros both roped a double in the inning, while a Myers single brought in DeMedeiros for the 4-0 lead that stood until the final out.

DeMedeiros tied her season-high in strikeouts with eight in the victory, and pitched a complete-game shutout with zero walks and seven hits. Neilan took the loss for the Mustangs, pitching 3.0 innings with six hits, two earned runs, and five strikeouts, while Costello pitched 3.0 innings of relief with five hits and three strikeouts.

Wentworth returns to action on Thursday for a league twinbill with Salve Regina.

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