Seahawks sweep second-straight doubleheader

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina softball team swept its second Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader in as many days as the Seahawks defeated Nichols 11-3 in five innings in the first game and 8-1 in the nightcap, Tuesday afternoon.

The Seahawks improved to 9-7 on the year and 4-0 in the conference while Nichols slipped to 2-10 on the year and 0-2 in the CCC.

Salve Regina jumped out to an early 8-0 lead in the first inning of the opening game and never looked back. The Seahawks rattled off four-straight hits, including a leadoff triple from Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.), to take a 2-0 lead before the Bison could record and out. Junior Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) pushed the Seahawk lead to 4-0 with a two-run single to center to score seniors Megan Jakiela (Meriden, Conn.) and Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.). After an RBI-single from sophomore Lauren Nicholson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), senior Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.) reached on an error by the Bison second baseman that allowed Nelson to come home. Muehlbronner came up for the second time in the inning and grounded out to bring around Nicholson before freshman Melissa Figueiredo (East Bridgewater, Mass.) singled to bring around Cruver.

Salve Regina scored three more in the bottom of the second to take an 11-0 lead after just two innings of play. With the bases jacked, Nicholson sent a 2-1 pitch to deep right to score Nelson, junior Jennifer Edine (Warwick, R.I.) and Jakiela.

The Bison cut into the Salve Regina lead in the top of the fourth with three runs on three hits and a costly Salve Regina error. Sophomore Avery Orszulak (Springfield, Mass.) and junior Amanda Broughton (Plymouth, Mass.) laced back-to-back RBI singles to plate the Bison's first two runs before Brougton came around to score on a groundout from sophomore Kaylee McNamara (Watertown, Mass.).

Simpson opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-run double to left field to score Figueiredo and Muehlbronner to give SRU a 2-0 lead after the first.

The Bison jumped on the board earlier in the second game than the first with an RBI single from sophomore Janine Coleman (Roslindale, Mass.) in the second to cut the lead to 2-1.

After a quiet third and fourth inning from Salve Regina, the Seahawks plated five runs in the fifth to lead 7-1. Quintana picked up her last two RBI of the afternoon with a two-run single through the right side before Nelson singled home Quintana. With Edine on third, Nicholson flew out to center to bring home Edine to extend Salve Regina's lead to 6-1. With just one out in the inning, Cruver reached on a fielding error by the Bison shortstop to bring home Nelson.

Nicholson put the finishing touches on Salve Regina's scoring with an RBI single down the right field line to score Jakiela and give Salve Regina the 8-1 win.

Cruver threw two complete game wins for Salve Regina, allowing just four runs, three earned on nine hits and one walk while striking out seven Bison over the two games. Nicholson paced the Seahawks at the plate with four hits and six RBI in the doubleheader.

Salve Regina returns to the diamond after a rare day off when the Seahawks welcome UMass Dartmouth to Toppa Field on Thursday, March 28 for a 4 p.m. start.