Seahawks sweep doubleheader from Wentworth, clinch playoff spot
NEWPORT, R.I. - Senior Christina Walsh (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) drove in four runs to lead the Salve Regina University softball team to a doubleheader sweep of Wentworth Institute of Technology Wednesday afternoon in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) action at Toppa Field. The Seahawks posted an 8-0 win (five innings) in game one and a 9-0 win (five innings) in game two.
With the wins, the Seahawks improve to 14-24 (12-12 TCCC) on the season and secure a playoff spot in TCCC Championship playoffs. The Leopards, meanwhile, have now dropped seven-straight and 10 of the last 11 against Salve Regina.
The Seahawks scored four times in the second and twice in both the third and fifth innings in game one. Junior Kristen Parolise (Hamden, Conn.) went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored while Walsh and sophomore Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) each drove in two. Junior Deanna Ciccarelli (Paramus, N.J.) drove in three runs, and sophomore starting pitcher Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.) did the rest, holding WIT without a hit over five innings of work. She walked one and struck out one.
In game two, Salve Regina scored four times in each of the first two innings to take a commanding 8-0 lead. Walsh drove in two and also scored twice in the opening frames while Parolise and classmate Nikki Hirschbeck (Shelton, Conn.), along with freshmen Jennifer Edine (Warwick, R.I.), Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.), and Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) each recorded one RBI. Nelson later drove in the ninth run of the game with a double down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth.
Cruver also earned the win in game two to move to 8-15 on the season. She scattered three hits and walked one while striking out two in three innings. Simpson pitched the final two innings and did not allow a hit.
"We're sitting in eighth right now (in TCCC), but we could be higher. We're going to watch and see," said head coach Kerri Scroope. "It's a nice way for our kids to go into Easter break. We have been error-plagued since day one, so for us to come out and play a pair of error-free games is pretty sweet. We're leaving the field today with a lot of confidence."
Freshman Samantha Altieri (Lakeville, Mass.) started both games for the Leopards and allowed a total of 19 hits and 17 runs (16 earned). She walked eight and struck out two. Senior Lizz Harvey (McConnellsburg, Pa.) went 2-for-2 in the nightcap.
The Seahawks return to action on March 28 when they host UMass Dartmouth. The doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. Wentworth finishes its season 1-36 (0-24 TCCC).