BOSTON, Mass. – In their regular season finale Saturday afternoon, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team split a pair of defensive battles with the Western New England Golden Bears as junior Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) tallied her 100^th career hit in game one on a go-ahead solo home run that proved to be the difference.

Both teams head to the postseason as the Leopards finish regular season play with a 23-17 (9-7 CCC) mark. WNE locks in at 24-13 (11-5 CCC).

GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 3, WESTERN NEW ENGLAND 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth set out to a lead right at the top of the order in the first inning as a double by sophomore Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) ran home a score by graduate student Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.), marking a 1-0 score before a triple by Rowe plated Igawa, pushing the advantage to 2-0.
• The Golden Bears notched the tying two runs in the third inning as a home run by graduate student Kailey Carrano (West Haven, Conn.) with a runner on sent home both, tying the score at two aside.
• The Leopards responded in the back half of the frame as Rowe smashed a solo home run past left field, clinching her 100^th career hit with the blast and giving Wentworth a 3-2 edge. Rowe became the 12^th student athlete in program history to reach the century mark.
• The hosts fended off the Golden Bears' prowess the rest of the way, highlighted by a diving catch from Pettenger in center field to end a threat in the sixth inning.
• Rowe struck out three in the circle to help preserve the win while helping the offense with two hits, including her triple that gives her the second-most triples in a season all-time (7), and two RBI. Pettenger also chipped in two hits while three others tallied one apiece.

GAME TWO: WESTERN NEW ENGLAND 1, WENTWORTH 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The two teams kept things tight throughout the early portions of the contest, with Wentworth making a mark in the fifth inning bringing freshman Abigail Delia (Litchfield, N.H.) to third and sophomore Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) to second. However, a double play from right field to home plate ended the threat and kept the score knotted at 0-0.
• After freshman Marley Rodriguez (Austin, Texas) notched a double and advanced to third for the Golden Bears in the top of the seventh, a ground out brought the freshman home, plating a run and giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.
• Sophomore Evelyn Picone (Mamaroneck, N.Y.) retired all three batters she faced in the back half of the frame, earning the Golden Bears the narrow win. Schriver struck out three while only giving up three hits in the setback while leading the Leopards with two hits.

SERIES NOTES:

• The Leopards have won two of the last four matchups between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth heads to their third straight CCC postseason with their first opponent and game to be announced.

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