Salve Regina ends MIT win streak, 5-2; Game Two called due to darkness

THE BASICS:

- Score:

Game One - Salve Regina University 5, MIT 2
Game Two – Called due to darkness with MIT up 13-1

- Records: MIT (29-5-1); Salve Regina University (15-18)

- Location: Cambridge, Mass. (Briggs Field)

- The Lead: The MIT softball team, ranked No. 2 in the first NCAA Division III New England regional rankings, could not overcome an early 3-0 lead by Salve Regina University in game one as the Engineers saw their 20-game win streak come to an end with a 5-2 loss. The Engineers were up 13-1 in the third inning of game two but the contest was called due to darkness and will not be continued at a later date due to upcoming postseason play for both teams.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- Salve Regina put up three runs in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Amanda Riley, an RBI groundout by Holly Kathios and a wild pitch which saw Riley cross the plate.

- MIT immediately cut into its deficit in the bottom of the first as Jasmin Joseph (Woodland Hills, Calif.), who reached on a bunt single to begin the frame scored on a squeeze bunt by Amanda Lee (Saratoga, Calif.). An RBI single by Sierra Rosenzweig (Anchorage, Alaska) in the bottom of the second plated Michelle Wist (Cypress, Texas), after she reached on a fielding error, to make the score 3-2, but that is all of the offense that MIT would get in game one.

- A two-run double by Riley in the top of the seventh gave the Seahawks a pair of insurance runs to boost their advantage to 5-2 heading into the bottom of the final frame. Andi Nelson (9-5) returned to the circle in the seventh and got MIT out 1-2-3 to give Salve Regina the 5-2 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

- Nelson earned the win for Salve Regina and moved to 9-5 as she scattered four hits, allowed two runs (one earned), one walk and struck out eight. MIT starter Ravenne Nasser (Methuen, Mass.) took the loss (15-3) on five innings, four hits, three earned runs, three walks and three strikeouts.

- Lee went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Rosenzweig went 1-for-3 with an RBI to account for MIT's offense. Salve Regina's Riley went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run which guided the visitors to the win.