Softball Sets Program Record for Wins with Sweep of Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team to a program-best eight games and established a program record for wins in a season as the Leopards wept Salve Regina. Wentworth took the first game, 4-2, in nine innings, and rallied for a 9-4 win in the nightcap.

With the win the Leopards improve to 20-8, breaking the previous record of 19 wins in a season, set in the 2003 season, and improve to 8-2 in Commonwealth Coast Conference play. The Seahawks fall to 11-16 (3-7).

GAME ONE:  Wentworth 4, Salve Regina 2 (9 innings)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In a game that featured a pitchers' duel between junior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) and freshman Alex Kelly (East Meadow, N.Y.), Wentworth had its first chance to score in the third inning. Freshman Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) led off with a walk and went to second when junior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) reached on a error on a sacrifice bunt. However, Kelly got the next three outs to end the threat. The next inning saw the Leopards load the bases with two outs as Hancock walked and senior Sabrina Haarstick (Bellingham, Mass.) reached on an error which moved Hancock to third. A strikeout, however, ended the inning.
• Salve Regina got its first hit of the game in the fifth inning when Kelly hit a one-out single and freshman pinch runner Sam Francheschi (East Haven, Conn.) went to second on a sophomore Francesca Rubino (Burlington, Mass.) single. Hancock recorded back-to-back strikeouts to leave the runners stranded. An inning later the Seahawks threatened again when, with two outs, freshman Emily Lane (Tinton Falls, N.J.) was hit by a pitch and went to third on a single from sophomore Christina Braid (Franklin Lakes, N.J.). Hancock got a ground out to keep the game scoreless.
• Freshman Katelin Howe (Bow, N.H.) got an infield single and, with one out, went to second when Pettenger reached on a fielder's choice and senior Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) singled to load the bases. Senior Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) reached on fielder's choice where Rowe was out trying to score.
• Both teams had chances to break the tie in the eighth inning, however, neither were able to. In the top of the ninth, Hancock started on second and Pettenger drew a two-out walk. Beverly reached on an error to load the bases and Pina followed with a single, which scored Hancock and an error score Pettenger to make it 2-0. Senior Aurora Wilks (Fruitport, Mich.) followed by reaching on an error which scored Beverly and Pina.
• In the bottom of the ninth, Lane started on second and scored on a Braid single. After taking second on the throw, Braid scored on a single from sophomore Maddie Capetta (Raritan, N.J.). Kelly grounded out to move Capetta to third but Hancock stranded her there with back-to-back outs.
• Hancock improved to 7-3 after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with eight strikeouts. Pina was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.

GAME TWO:  Wentworth 9, Salve Regina 4

 HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Pettenger led off by reaching on an error. Beverly followed with a triple to driver her home. Salve Regina took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Junior Drew Ceppetelli (Barrington, N.H.) led of the inning by singling and going to second. A ground out moved her to third and Braid singled her home. With two outs Braid stole second and Lane walked. Rubino drove in Braid when she hit a ground-rule double.
• With one out in the top of the second inning, Haarstick singled and went to second when Rowe singled. After Howe grounded out to move both players up, Haarstick scored on a wild pitch which put Rowe at third and she scored on a Beverly single.
• The Seahawks took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning. With one out, Ceppetelli reached on an error which was erased when senior Lauren Packer (Manchester, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice. Braid followed with a triple to score Packer and Capetta reached on an error which plated Braid.
• Wentworth erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh inning. Beverly led off with a single and went to third on a Pina double. Wilks walked to load the bases and graduate student Kayla DeMedeiros (North Dartmouth, Mass.) singled in Beverly. Senior Ceilidh Higgins (Medway, Mass.) drove in a run with a fielder's choice and Haarstick followed by driving in a run with a fielder's choice when senior pinch runner Abby Morin (Dudley, Mass.) scored on an error. DeMedeiros scored when Rowe reached on a fielder's choice and Howe drove in Higgins with a single. Pettenger drove in the Black & Gold's six run of the inning when she doubled in Rowe.
• Beverly went 4-for-5 with a triple and two RBI. Pina was 2-for-4 with two doubles, and Howe was 2-for-4. DeMedeiros improved to 7-3, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits in six innings. Hancock pitched a scoreless seventh, striking out two.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today marked the 56th and 57th all-time meetings between the two teams. Wentworth snapped a 19-game series losing streak with the first game win and also won for the first time at Salve Regina since April 23, 2005. Salve Regina leads all-time, 48-9.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth is at Suffolk on Saturday.

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