Nelson HR sends game one to extras; Seahawks beat Hawks, 14-4

CLERMONT, Fla. - CLERMONT, Fla. - Salve Regina University softball split its doubleheader in Florida today, dropping a 6-4 decision to Simmons College in eight innings before picking up the first win of the season with a 14-4 score against Becker College.

In an ECAC re-match, the Sharks took a two-run lead in the top of the seventh off a two run homer by Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) but the Seahawks (1-3) tied the game with a two-run home run by Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) to send the game into the eighth. 

After a scoreless first and second inning, the Sharks (1-0) scored their first run in the third when lead off hitter Jen Field (Windham, Maine) singled and then advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.). Ari King grounded out to first to move Field to third before E. Cunningham singled to the left side and picked up her first RBI of the year. 

In the bottom of the sixth, Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) singled and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Melissa Figueiredo (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) got on first off a Sharks error before Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.) reach on a fielder's choice and send Muehlbronner across home plate to tie the game at one. 

The Sharks found their bats in the seventh as H. Cunningham led off with a single and E. Cunningham drilled a two-run homer over the center field fence to put the pressure on the Seahawks. But Sara Nelson responded with her own two-run homer to send the game into extra innings. 

With Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) on second, Jess Uschmann (Feeding Hills, Mass.) hit a perfect sacrifice bunt to put the Sharks in prime scoring position. Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) hit a line drive double to score White, and H. Cunningham singled and picked up an RBI to regain the Sharks two run lead. Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.) threw a wild pitch late in the inning and Field took full advantage, increasing the Sharks lead to three. 

In the bottom of the eighth, the Seahawks placed Muehlbronner on second but the Sharks defense was on fire, as Backhaus picked up her seventh strikeout of the game and H. Cunningham fielded a grounder hit by Simpson for the Sharks second out of the inning. Quintana hit a single to the right side to score Muehlbronner to cut Simmons' lead to two but Backhaus struck out Nicole Parry (Quincy, Mass.) to secure the win.

Next against Becker, early mistakes by the Hawks put them in a 2-0 hole in the first, as Salve Regina junior third baseman Marissa Simpson had an RBI single and a stolen base, later scoring on an error. Simpson would finish the day getting on base four times and reaching home on three of those occasions. Becker tied it up in the bottom of the third when freshman outfielder Jessica Wheelahan (Watertown, Conn.) and sophomore pitcher Megan Cordon (Watertown, Conn.) each had RBIs for the Blue and White. In the top of the seventh, however, Salve Regina posted seven runs with five more coming in the top of the sixth.

Salve Regina senior pitcher Jen Cruver allowed only three earned runs in six innings while striking out eight Hawks. Cruver helped her own cause with a two RBI double to right center in the top of the fourth, and finished the day with a team-high three RBI. Senior shortstop Ali Muehlbronner had an RBI double to center in the fourth to score Cruver, finishing with two runs batted in. Senior first baseman Jillian Quintana and junior designated player Sara Nelson each drove in two runs. Freshman right fielder Melissa Figueiredo went two-for-four with an RBI and two runs scored. Senior catcher Megan Jakiela (Meriden, Conn.) reached base three times, scoring twice.

Becker sophomore shortstop Jessica Brochu (Hardwick, Vt.) provided a rare highlight for the Hawks with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth and Cordon hit an RBI double to left in the bottom of the fifth to score senior outfielder Maggie Levesque (North Adams, Mass.). Senior catcher Talan Barron (Methuen, Mass.) went two-for-three with a run. Cordon pitched six innings for Becker, with three strikeouts.