Seahawks top Pride in NCAA opener, 7-4

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Springfield College softball team dropped a 7-4 decision to Salve Regina in the opening contest of the 2017 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament Regional, hosted on Potter Field on Friday afternoon.

With the loss, Springfield College falls to 32-10 overall, and will wait to face the loser of Amherst and UMass Boston in Game 4 on Saturday. With the win, Salve Regina pushes its win streak to eight games, as it is now 26-11 on the season. The Seahawks will take on the winner of Amherst and UMass Boston on Saturday in Game 3.

Sophomore Emily Woznick (Sandy Hook, Conn.) led the Seahawks in the batters box, as she recorded five RBI in the game, including a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning. Woznick's home run on Friday marked the eighth of the season and the 11th of her career. In the circle for Springfield College, junior pitcher Talia Loda (East Haven, Conn.) finished pitching 6.1 innings, giving up eight hits while striking out a pair. For the Seahawks, Kelsey Boarman (North Dighton, Mass.) had a strong outing, pitching a complete game, holding the Pride to three hits while striking out three.

Salve Regina took a two-run lead in the top of the third inning when Woznick roped a ball into right field, plating Francesca Galeazzi (Lynn, Mass.) and Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass.). The Pride responded in the bottom half of the frame when Carianna Gasdia (Wakefield, Mass.) drew a walk, before Kirsten Drobiak (Griswold, Conn.) moved her to third with a single to right. Next up, Allie Wheeler (Agawam, Mass.) grounded out to second, but Gasdia was able to cross to cut Springfield College's deficit in half.

The Seahawks regained its two-run lead in the top of the fourth inning when Galeazzi reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Lexi Soucie (North Easton, Mass.) to come home from third, giving Salve Regina a 3-1 lead.

Springfield College pulled back to within one in the bottom of the fifth inning when Wheeler reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Loda from third to make it 3-2, Seahawks.

Salve Regina tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the seventh, including a three-run shot off the bat of Woznick to give the visitors a five-run lead, before Wheeler came up with a triple to right, scoring Gasdia and Drobiak to cut the Pride's deficit back to three in the bottom of the seventh. From there, Boarman was able to pick up the final two outs to seal the win.

Postgame Interview - Kelsey Boarman, Jannelle Iaquinto, Emily Woznick