Record-setting fourth inning caps sweep for Seahawks

MILTON, Mass. (Wednesday, March 31, 2021) - Trailing 1-0 at the bottom of the fourth inning, Salve Regina University softball erupted for nine runs with a record-setting five home runs in one frame to complete a sweep of Curry College on the road.

The Colonels had swept a pair from the Seahawks last Saturday before the teams were scheduled to play at Toppa Field on Sunday. Rain forced a postponement of that doubleheader and Wednesday's doubleheader went on as scheduled at D. Forbes Will Field (Milton, Mass.), with Salve Regina serving as the home team.

Maddie Capetta (Raritan, N.J.) started the home run circus with a solo shot leading off the fourth. Christina Braid (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) followed that game-tying blast with one of her own for a 2-1 Seahawk lead. After a walk to Lauren Packer (Manchester, Conn.), Kendall Duprey (Cranston, R.I.) belted her second round-tripper of the day, and forcing the Colonels into a pitching change.

Sophia Strazza (Wilton, Conn.) singled and came home on a home run from Nikki Vanelli (Quakertown, Pa.) for a 6-1 lead and another pitching change.

Kaitlyn Bennett (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) walked, Capetta singled, and Braid delivered the knockout blow with her second home run of the inning and third of the season. Maddy Fluke (Douglas, Mass.) pitched a 1-2-3 top of the fifth to finish the mercy victory with an eight-run lead, 9-1.

Julia Coute (North Dighton, Mass.) pitched the Seahawks to a 7-1 victory in the opener allowing just seven hits in six innings. Capetta and Duprey had homered in that contest as well. The Seahawks have hit nine home runs in four games before truly playing at home on Friday (Toppa Field - 4 p.m.) when they host the Golden Bears to begin a six-game series with Western New England University.