Salve Regina topped by Brandeis, Haverford

CLERMONT, Fla. - Salve Regina University softball played two different opponents at two different venues in Clermont, Fla., with similar results. First-inning runs led 7-2 and 6-3 victories, respectively, for Brandeis University and Haverford College against the Seahawks.

Salve Regina (1-3) starter in Game One, Nicole Parry (Quincy, Mass.), surrendered four quick runs to the Judges. Just 24 hours earlier the sophomore hurler struck out 12 batters in her first collegiate pitching appearance. Parry added nine Ks against Brandeis, but the Judges scraped two more runs in the third and a single run in the fifth for a 7-0 lead.

Brandeis starting pitcher Samantha Wrobleski struck out five Seahawks and allowed no hits in four innings of work before giving way to reliever Melissa Nolan. Lexi Soucie (North Easton, Mass.) cracked the first hit for the Seahawks, a two-out single through the left side in the fifth.

Salve Regina got on the board with a pair of runs against Nolan in the sixth. Jenna Edine (Warwick, R.I.) had a lead-off single and scored on a triple from catcher Genevieve Benoit (Swampscott, Mass.). Benoit came home on a sacrifice bunt from Parry.

The Seahawks waited for Brandeis' 9 a.m. game to finish at the NTC Complex before beginning their scheduled game 40 minutes after the 11 a.m. scheduled start. Brandeis improved to 6-0 with the 7-2 win.

Salve Regina moved to Hancock Park for its 5 p.m. scheduled start with Haverford, making its 2014 debut. Both teams waited an extra hour due to a Division II contest between Wayne St. and West Liberty to conclude on Field 3. The Wildcats rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 walk-off victory.

Seahawk sophomore Dominique Burnham (Scarborough, Maine) was tagged for a single run in the first frame. Salve Regina tied the score in the top of the third when Soucie led off with a double to deep centerfield, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and came home on a bunt single by sophomore infielder Melissa Figueiredo (East Bridgewater, Mass.).

The Fords scored three more runs in the fourth after two outs, and then upped the lead to 6-1 with a two-run, two-out single from Jill Schall.

Kara O'Riley (Acton, Mass.) tripled home Benoit in the seventh and later scored on Sara Nelson's (Bristol, Conn.) single to left field.

Salve Regina was outhit by Haverford (11 to 8), but limited the Fords to only singles.

The Seahawks return to NTC Complex for a 9 a.m. Monday start against Rensselaer. After the dual with the Engineers, Salve Regina takes on the Crusaders of Alvernia College.