Seahawks open CCC with home sweep of Lions

NEWPORT, R.I. – Junior Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.) tossed a one-hit shutout in game one, while junior Zeena Barbarita (Johnston, R.I.) collected three hits in the night cap as the Salve Regina University softball team swept a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader versus Eastern Nazarene on Friday evening at Toppa Field. The Seahawks took game one by a final score of 7-0 before earning a 9-1 victory in six innings in game two. The sweep improves the Seahawks to 5-5 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while the Lions fall to 3-11 (0-2 CCC).

Junior shortstop Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) went 4-for-5 on the afternoon with a pair of walks and three runs scored, while junior Megan Jakiela (Meridan, Conn.) and Barbarita also had four hits apiece. Sophomore Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) launched a two-run homer in game one, while junior Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.) had a two-run triple in the nightcap. On the mound, Cruver went the distance in both games to earn a pair of wins, allowing just one run on eight hits over 13.0 strong innings of work.

The Lions were led by junior Hannah Moore (Sheridan, Calif.) who went 2-for-3 on the evening, while freshman Carissa Cicolini (Methuen, Mass.) drove in Eastern Nazarene's lone run.

In game one, the Seahawks grabbed a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Muehlbronner got things started with an infield single and Quintana followed with a walk to put two on with nobody out. After a pair of pop outs, it appeared the Lions were going to get out of the inning unscaved, but a costly dropped fly ball allowed both Muehbronner and Quintana to scamper home with the game's first runs.

Still holding the 2-0 lead in the fourth, the Seahawks rallied for four runs on four hits. Barbarita and senior Kristen Parolise (Hamden, Conn.) drove in the first two runs of the inning with a pair of sacrifice flies before Simpson mashed a two-run homer over the right field fence to put Salve Regina on top, 6-0.

The Seahawks added another run in the fifth, which was more than enough for Cruver who cruised her way through seven innings while allowing just one hit to earn her sixth career shutout.

In the nightcap, the Lions finally managed to get to Cruver in the top of the first. After a walk and a ground-rule double put two runners in scoring position, Cicolini delivered an RBI single to center to bring home the first LIons' run of the evening.

It appeared Eastern Nazarene was in for a big inning, loading the bases with just one out. However, Cruver induced 1-2-3 double play to get out of the inning without any further damage.

The Seahawks tied the game on a sacrifice fly by freshman Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.) in the bottom of the first, and then grabbed the lead with three more runs in the second. Barbarita, Parolise, and Cruver all singled to get the second inning rally started, while Dinan and Muehlbronner each added RBI singles.

The Seahawks retained their 4-1 advantage into the fourth inning where they once again struck for four runs. Quintana's two-run triple was the big hit of the frame, while both Jakiela and Cruver added RBI singles to give the Seahawks an 8-1 lead.

The Seahawks then put the game away in the sixth when Parolise drove home Jakiela with a sacrifice fly to seal the 9-1 victory.

Both teams return to action on Saturday, with the Lions hosting a doubleheader with Curry in their home opener, and the Seahawks hitting the road to play a CCC doubleheader versus Nichols beginning at 1 p.m.