BEVERLY, Mass. – On opening day of the Commonwealth Coast Conference Tournament, the fourth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team shot past both teams they faced, fending off third-seeded Roger Williams 4-3 before dropping top-seeded Endicott 5-2 in the nightcap.
With the two wins, the Leopards move on to the second day of the double-elimination tournament with a perfect 2-0 record, hoping to keep their unbeaten streak alive versus second-seeded Western New England in quarterfinal play.
GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 4, ROGER WILLIAMS 3
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Roger Williams leaped out to a 1-0 lead in the opening inning as a double by senior Taylor Howell (Sandwich, Mass.) with a runner on plated a run. The Leopards answered in the back half of the inning as a solo home run by graduate student Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) knotted the score at one aside before an infield fly with the bases loaded plated another run, giving Wentworth a 2-1 edge.
- A fielder's choice for the Hawks with a runner in scoring position plated the runner, tying the game at two-all in the fifth inning before another solo homer by Pettenger gave the Black & Gold a 3-2 lead. Later in the inning, a single by senior Annabelle Hebard (North Attleboro, Mass.) drove home another run, pushing Wentworth's lead to 4-2.
- Roger Williams cut their deficit to one in sixth as a ground out brought home a runner. However, the Hawks suffered four straight outs in the next chances to score as junior Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) earned the win in the circle, striking out two batters along the way. Offensively, Pettenger paced the Leopards, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, while Hebard and sophomore Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) chipped in two hits apiece.
SERIES NOTES:
- The Black & Gold have taken six of the last nine matchups between the two teams.
GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 5, ENDICOTT 2
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- With two runners on in the first inning, a single by Hebard plated Pettenger at home to give the Leopards a 1-0 advantage early before a double by sophomore Sydney Miccile (Holliston, Mass.) drove home another two runs, extending the lead to 3-0.
- The two teams stayed quiet in the middle frames until the fifth inning as Igawa blasted a home run with Pettenger in scoring position, pushing Wentworth's lead to 5-0.
- Endicott cut the deficit in the sixth inning, scoring a run on an error right after a fly out before a single by junior Paige Berdos (Plainville, Mass.) drove home another run, marking a 5-2 score. However, sophomore Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) retired four of the next five batters she faced to help Wentworth to their second win on the day.
- Schriver struck out three and only gave up sixth hits in her 27th career win, moving her into sole possession of the second-most wins all-time. Offensively, Miccile led the Leopards with two hits and two RBI while Igawa also chipped in two RBI as well.
NEXT UP:
- Wentworth faces Western New England on Friday afternoon.
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