#8 Salve Regina egdes Springfield, 1-0, in NEWMAC opener

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Tuesday, March 26, 2024) – The No. 8 Salve Regina University team edged Springfield College, 1-0, in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both squads this afternoon on Archie Allen Field.

Salve Regina improved to 14-1 overall and to 1-0 in its first-ever NEWMAC contest, while Springfield dropped to 10-7, 0-1.

It was an all-out pitchers' duel as both teams combined for just one run and five total hits. Salve Regina starter Brayden Clark (Beverly, Mass.), despite getting the no decision, allowed just two base runners (walk and hit by pitch) over the first four innings. Springfield starter Colby Welch (Tampa, Fla.) matched Clark out for out as he didn't surrender a hit until the top of the sixth inning when Salve Regina came across with the game's only run.

Andrew Sweet (Charlton, Mass.) registered the first hit of the game for either team in the bottom of the fifth as he dropped a bunt single, but a heads up play by Salve Regina catcher Brady Smolinski (North Grafton, Mass.) back picked Jack Dunaisky (Longmeadow, Mass.) at second and kept the game scoreless through five.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Evan O'Rourke (Arlington, Mass.) walked and in the next at-bat, Christian Homa (Fairfield, Conn.) placed a perfectly lined double into the gap to allow O'Rourke to come all the way around to score from first for the 1-0 lead.

Springfield had its best chance to score in the bottom of the eighth as Andrew McCarty (Meriden, Conn.) began the inning with a single to center, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on an error. Jason Arrigo (Basking Ridge, N.J.), however, struck out the final two batters of the inning keeping the Pride off the board.

Kyle Carrozza (Fairfield, Conn.) shut the door and secured his fifth save of the year with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth as Salve Regina took the game by the 1-0 final. Arrigo earned the win out of the pen for the visitors.

Salve Regina returns to the road on Wednesday when they face the 2022 national champion Eastern Connecticut State University squad at 3:30 p.m. in Willimantic, Connecticut. The Seahawks and Pride will meet again next Tuesday (April 2) in Newport.