Three-run rally helps Seahawks salvage split with Nor'easters

SEAHAWK SOFTBALL RESULTS
1. Salve Regina 4, U. of New England 3
2. U of New England 3, Salve Regina 2
Toppa Field - Newport, Rhode Island
Sunday, April 8, 2018

Summary
NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University softball scored three times in the bottom of the seventh with two outs to walk off with a 4-3 triumph over visiting University of New England in game one of a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) doubleheader. The Nor'easters (10-6, 5-1 CCC) led 3-0 into the bottom of the sixth in game two and Elizabeth Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.) struck again, blasting a two-run homer to cut the Seahawk (7-11, 4-2 CCC) deficit to one, but UNE pitcher Sydnee Bessler (Everett, Mass.) set the side down in order in the bottom of the seventh to squash a double-dose of Toppa Field heroics. Lombardo had provided the defensive and offensive heroics in the opener, including a leadoff double in the sixth before scoring the tying run on a two-out double by Holly Kathios (Pelham, Mass.). The Seahawks were down to their final strike in the seventh when Francesca Galeazzi (Lynn, Mass.) reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners for Lombardo. She crushed a 2-0 pitch to left field for a game-tying, two-run double; junior captain Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H.) followed with an RBI double to right field to bring Lombardo home with the walk-off win.

Series and Streaks
The University of New England leads the all-time series, 25-20-1, while Salve Regina has won four of the last six meetings. The teams have split each of the regular season meetings the last two years.

Three Seahawk Stars of the Day

1. Salve Regina junior Elizabeth Lombardo (Thomaston, Conn.) drove in four runs and scored three times in the two games (scoring half of the six Seahawk runs), banged out three extra basehits (two doubles and her first home run of 2018).
2. Salve Regina junior Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H.) had two hits in the opener including the game-winning double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, raising her team-leading RBI total to 22 in 18 games.
3. Salve Regina junior Holly Kathios (Pelham, N.H.) caught all 14 innings with three different freshmen pitchers in the circle. At the plate she doubled in both games to tie Lombardo and Riley with eight two-baggers on the season. Kathios drilled a two-out RBI double to deep center in the bottom of the sixth of game one to tie the score at 1-1.

Key Stat of the Game
Nor'easter pitcher Sydnee Bessler (Everett, Mass.) struck out a dozen Seahawks and did not walk a batter in 13.2 innings. She went to a 3-0 count on only one batter, the final Seahawk she faced, and got the final out on a foul pop to the catcher Avery Alberghini (Middlesex, Vt.).

Turning Point
With Salve Regina trailing 3-1, senior outfielder Lindsay DelGrego (Wallingford, Conn.) led off the Seahawk seventh with a single to third base. Bessler got two outs on a K and fly ball to left while DelGrego stole second. Galeazzi slashed a 2-2 pitch to the left side for an infield hit to put runners at the corners. Lombardo launched a long fly to left that appeared headed over the fence, but it stayed inside the park for a two-run, game-tying double. Riley followed with her own double to score Lombardo from second with the winning run.

Quick Hits

• Salve Regina outhit UNE, 14-7, in the two games.
• Starting pitcher Jaycee Garrigan (Uxbridge, Mass.) worked 6.2 innings in the opener and allowed just one earned run. She benefited from two inning-ending double plays turned by her infield in the first two frames (Lombardo-Galeazzi-Hickey, Galeazzi-Riley-Hickey).
• Seahawk pitcher Andi Nelson (Candia, N.H.) faced one batter in relief in the opener and threw four pitches for a strikeout; she earned the victory (her fourth) when the Seahawks rallied in its seventh inning. Nelson started game two and worked 4.2 frames giving up three earned runs.
• Lombardo's HR was the second of the season for the Seahawks; Garrigan had a three-run homer in Florida on March 16 against Ithaca.
• Nor'easter outfielder Andrea Gosper (Wyoming, R.I.) singled and scored a seventh-inning run in the opener, before walking three times and stealing two bases in the nightcap.
• Francesca Galeazzi finished the day with four singles.

Next Up
Salve Regina (7-11, 4-2 CCC) hosts Western New England University at Toppa Field on Tuesday, April 10 (4 p.m.) while promoting "Teal the Field," to raise awareness of prevention of sexual violence. The Nor'easters (10-6, 5-1 CCC) complete their Rhode Island weekend (swept Roger Williams on Saturday) before returning to their home state and play at Southern Maine on Tuesday.