Seahawks, Corsairs split at Toppa
NEWPORT, R.I. - Sophomore Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) laced a three-run triple to spark a four-run second inning and help the Salve Regina University softball team to a 4-3 win in game two of their doubleheader with UMass Dartmouth and earn a split with the Corsairs in Friday afternoon's non-conference doubleheader.
Senior Christina Walsh (Putnam Valley, N.Y.) also drove in a run for the Seahawks, who wrap up the regular season 15-25 and will travel to Roger Williams University for a first round The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) playoff matchup Tuesday afternoon. Junior Ashley Felaccio (Acushet, Mass.) scattered four hits and struck out seven in a 4-3 game one win for the Corsairs, who moved to 10-23 on the season.
UMass Dartmouth scored one in the first and two in the fifth in its game one win. Senior Michelle Conway (Burrillville, R.I.) reached base on a fielding error and came around to score on a single by junior Brittany Eldridge (Raynham, Mass.) in the opening frame. Conway led off the fifth with a triple and came around to score on an infield grounder by freshman Emily Pontes (Tewksbury, Mass.) to make it 2-0. Later, an RBI groundout off the bat of junior Hannah Rounds (Lincoln, R.I.) plated Pontes to give UMD a 3-0 lead.
The Seahawks best scoring chance came in the fifth when junior Kristen Parolise (Hamden, Conn.) came to the plate with the bases loaded and two down, but the third baseman tapped back to the pitcher to end the threat. Sophomore Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.) took the loss for Salve Regina, allowing eight hits and three runs (two earned) in seven innings. She walked three and struck out two to fall to 8-16 on the season.
The Salve Regina bats came alive in the nightcap as the Seahawks scored four times in the second to grab a 4-0 lead. Muehlbronner laced a triple to left field that brought home junior Nikki Hirschbeck (Shelton, Conn.), freshman Bethany Snow (Thomaston, Maine), and Cruver to put the Seahawks in front 3-0. Walsh followed with a single up the middle to bring home Muehlbronner.
The Corsairs put up a '3' spot in the fifth to cut their deficit to one at 4-3. With runners on second and third and two outs, junior Kaitlin Hogan (Tewksbury, Mass.) sent a blooper into centerfield that Walsh was unable to hold onto, allowing both runners to score. Pontes followed with a single to center to bring in Hogan with the third run.
SRU freshman starting pitcher Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) answered by retiring the final seven batters of the game to earn her seventh win of the season. In seven innings of work, she allowed three hits and three unearned runs while walking three and striking out three. Felaccio took the loss, allowing five hits and four runs with two walks and one strikeout.
"We haven't played in a week. We had a lot of errors in the first game and were rusty at the plate," said Seahawks head coach Kerri Scroope. "We definitely hit better in the second game. We'll have two good days of practice before we head to Roger Williams on Tuesday. If we get out bats together and Jen and Marissa are on, we'll be ready to go."
Walsh finished with three hits on the afternoon while Muehlbronner recorded a pair. Pontes had three hits for the Corsairs, who also received two hits off the bat of Eldridge and junior Diane Barry (Norwood, Mass).