Edine, Nelson help salvage split for Salve Regina

NEWPORT, R.I. - After suffering a 6-3 setback in the opener of two against Roger Williams University, the Salve Regina University softball team responded with a five-run second inning in the second game and finished with a split after an 8-4 win in the nightcap at Toppa Field during Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) action.

The all-time series between the in-state rivals now stands at 32-32 after 64 meetings, started in 1987.

The Hawks scored three unearned runs in their second at-bat of the opener. Starting pitcher Meghan Maliga (Suffield, Conn.) helped her own cause with a two-out, RBI single to deliver sophomore Alana Peoples (Scarborough, Maine) who had reached on an error. With the bases loaded, catcher Lauren Tierney (Middleboro, Mass.) took one for the team as a hit batsman to drive in the second run.

Freshman Chelsea Boulrisse (Bourne, Mass.) singled back to the pitcher, CCC Pitcher of the Week Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.), to plate the third run of the inning.

Salve Regina (12-8; 5-1 CCC) got two runs back in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Megan Jakiela (Meriden, Conn.) led off with a single off Maliga. Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.) reached on a fielding error and advanced to second on a groundout. Both Seahawks came around to score when shortstop Ali Muehlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) reached on a two-out error.

Roger Williams (6-12; 5-1 CCC) negated the Seahawk rally with three more unearned runs in the top of the fifth. After a one-out throwing error put Hawks at the corner bases, Delaney Burns (Hudson, N.H.) lifted a sacrifice fly to score Boulrisse from third. Freshman Taylor Messier (Cranston, R.I.) followed a two-out walk with a two-run double to left center.

In the Seahawk seventh, freshman Dominique Burnham (Scarborough, Maine), on in relief of Cruver, and Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) had back-to-back singles to score Muehlbronner who had reached on an error to lead off the frame.

In the second game, the Seahawks trailed early again when Roger Williams scored twice in the second inning. Messier worked a one-out walk after fouling off four of the nine pitches during her at-bat. One out later, Maliga singled to center and both Hawks scored on Molly Petrone's (Northborough, Mass.) single up the middle.

Salve Regina did not waste any time to climb ahead for the first time today. Jennifer Edine (Warwick, R.I.) and Nelson led off the Seahawk second inning with back-to-back singles and moved to second and third on the throw in from the outfield. Lauren Nicholson (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) was safe on her sacrifice attempt to load the bases. Cruver's single cut the deficit in half and left the bases full.

Muehlbronner had an RBI fielder's choice grounder and moved to second on a subsequent fielder's choice grounder that resulted in an out a home plate. With the score tied (2-2) and the bases full, Simpson beat out a would be double play while Cruver and Muehlbronner crossed the plate.

Senior first baseman Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.) gave the Seahawks a three-run lead with her RBI single up the middle.

Salve Regina scored two more runs in the next frame as Nelson, Nicholson, and Cruver had successive singles. After two outs, the throw back to the pitcher eluded Cayla McCarthy (Shelburne, Vt.) and Nelson scampered home. Simpson singled through the right side to re-load the bases and Quintana followed with an RBI single through the left side.

Edine had a two-out triple to center in the Seahawk sixth inning, and Nelson delivered her insurance run with a single placed on the left field line for an 8-2 lead.

Freshman infielder Veronica Alicea (Trumbull, Conn.) had a two-run single for Roger Williams in its last at-bat. Cruver ended the threat with a double-play grounder to short with Muehlbronner tagging the bag at second and relaying the final out to Quintana.

Salve Regina plays two at Western New England University on Saturday (12 p.m.) while Roger Williams plays a conference twinbill at Gordon College.