Clermont, Fla. – As the last standing team to compete in the 2020 spring season, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team closed the doors with a 2-1 walk-off triumph over Keuka College on Saturday afternoon in Clermont, Florida.
The Leopards conclude the Florida swing at 5-5, and abruptly halt the season with its best spring break record in program history.
In a game that featured just 11 combined hits and 12 combined strikeouts, the Leopards and the Wolves played a scoreless seven innings before the international tie breaker snapped the 0-0 stalemate. On a sacrifice bunt with the lead runner on second, Keuka scored the first run of the game, only to be answered by the Leopards as senior Deanna DiPilato (Worcester, Mass.) moved Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) into scoring position. Freshman Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.) did her job at the plate with a sac fly to center field, scoring Beverly with ease to force both teams into the ninth inning.
DiPilato started the top of the ninth with a textbook defensive play behind home plate, leading DeMedeiros to a 1-2-3 inning as Wentworth lined up for one final at-bat.
DeMedeiros cracked a double to center, sending a flying Brionna Myers (Seabrook, N.H.) home from second, but the Wolves turned a tight relay and caught Myers at the plate to stop the Leopard advance. However, amidst the pressure of two outs down, the Leopards never lost hope, as sophomore Alyssa Lohr (Fairport, N.Y.) swung into a line drive up the middle into center field, scoring DeMedeiros from second to give Wentworth the 2-1 walk-off victory.
DeMedeiros closes the season above .500 at 3-2, and fanned five batters while allowing five hits and one earned run.
The Wentworth athletics community would like to thank the softball student-athletes for their hard work this season, and would like to extend a special thank you to Deanna DiPilato for her leadership and passion throughout the past four years.
Due to the cancellation of the 2020 spring season among the COVID-19 pandemic, Wentworth athletics will resume fall sports in September.
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