CLERMONT, Fla. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team continued its strong play to start the season, winning two more games Friday afternoon. The Leopards first defeated Rivier University 3-2, then took a 5-4 decision over the University of Minnesota-Morris.

GAME ONE:  Wentworth 3, Rivier 0

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Wentworth Batting Leaders: Kaitlin Pettenger (2-for-4, 1 RBI, 1R), Alexandra Pina (2-for-4, 2B, 1R)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders: Erin Hancock ((W, 2-1), 7 IP, 2 ER, 6H, 4K)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Raiders jumped to an lead early, getting two runs in the top of the first. Rivier picked up a leadoff single, followed by a double to put two runners on with nobody out. The first run came around to score on an RBI groundout, then Josie Maggiore (North Hampton, N.H.) delivered a two-out RBI single for the Raiders. The Leopards threatened in the bottom of the first, getting two runners on with one out, but couldn't cash in as the next two batters were set down.
• The two pitchers then went on to control the next three innings. From the second through fourth innings, each team managed only one hit each. Junior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) recorded three strikeouts during the stretch for Wentworth, while Nicole Verrette (Haverhill, Mass.) had two runners reach on errors in the fourth but was able to work her way out of it for Rivier.
• After Hancock set the Raiders down in order in the fifth, the Leopards were able to get their offense going in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Katelin Howe (Bow, N.H.) got things started with a leadoff single, and junior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) drove her in with an RBI triple to get Wentworth on the board. Senior Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) then brough Pettenger in with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2 with still only one out. After senior Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) doubled and came in to score following a two-out error by Rivier, putting the Leopards ahead 3-2 going into the sixth.
• The leadoff batter reached for the Raiders following an error, and a two-out single put the tying run at second base. But Hancock was able to strand the two runners, getting a lineout to work out of trouble. Wentworth looked to grow their lead in the sixth, and got runners to second and third with two outs with a chance to plate two more runs, but Verrette got a groundout to end the chance for the Leopards, who still held a one-run lead heading into the final inning.
• Hancock then put Rivier down 1-2-3 in the seventh, getting two groundouts and a lineout while not allowing a baserunner to preserve a 3-2 victory for Wentworth.

                                                 GAME TWO: Wentworth 5, Minnesota-Morris 4

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Wentworth Batting Leaders: Sabrina Haarstick (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1R) Annabelle Hebard (2-for-3, 1 RBI)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders: Kayla DeMedeiros (5 IP, 2 ER, 7H, 4K), Jess Rowe ((W, 2-0), 2 IP, 2 ER, 2H, 2K)

• After Beverly walked and Pina reached on a fielder's choice, senior Aurora Wilks (Fruitport, Mich.) drove in the first run of the game with a two-out RBI single, giving the Leopards the lead in the top of the first. The Cougars got it back in the bottom of the first though, as Mollie Dummer (Waconia, Minn.) came through for Minnesota-Morris with an RBI single to tie the game at one.
• After both teams went scoreless in the second, the Leopards put a pair of runners on in the third with nobody out, but could not advance either, as Dummer set down the next three batters she faced. Minnesota-Morris then took the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Tori Nichols-Kraft (West Fargo, N.D.) ripped an RBI double down the left field line to put the Cougars ahead.
• The pitchers then found their strides, with graduate student Kayla DeMedeiros (South Dartmouth, Mass.) not allowing a single hit over the next three innings. Wentworth got a pair of runners on in both the fourth and the sixth, but Dummer was able to work out of trouble each time, leaving the Leopards trailing 2-1 going into the seventh.
• After Pina walked with one out, freshman Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) brought her in with an RBI triple to tie the game. Rowe then came in to score on a wild pitch, giving Wentworth the lead, and junior Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.) followed up with a single and advanced to third after two more wild pitches. Then with two out, senior Sabrina Haarstick (Bellingham, Mass.) provided the fourth run for Wentworth with an RBI single, and sophomore Annabelle Hebard (North Attleboro, Mass.) brought her in with a run-scoring double with two outs, extending it to a 5-2 lead.
• Minnesota-Morris threatened in the bottom of the seventh, however. With two out and two runners on base, Nichols-Kraft scored two with an RBI double to left-center, putting the tying run in scoring position. After a pinch runner advanced to third on a wild pitch, Rowe,  who pitched the final two innings, came through with a strikeout, as the Leopards hung on to win 5-4.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• This was the fourth time Wentworth has faced Rivier, with the Raiders now holding a 3-1 series lead. The Leopards and Minnesota-Morris met for the second time today, with both teams now holding one victory each.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards have a quick turnaround, as they play two more games starting tomorrow morning against Penn State-Altoona at 10:00 a.m. Wentworth then faces off with Augsburg University at 12:15 p.m.