Fluke fires five-hitter in complete-game shutout; Seahawks, Nor'easters split

NEWPORT, R.I. (Wednesday, April 14, 2021) - Salve Regina University junior Maddy Fluke (Douglas, Mass.) held the University of New England to just five hits over seven innings en route to a complete-game shutout, 4-0, in Game One of a non-league softball doubleheader between the two Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) members. Fluke struck out four Nor'easters to earn her fourth victory of the season (4-2).

Classmate Nikki Vanelli (Quakertown, Pa.) roped a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth to break a scoreless tie. Freshman infielder Maddie Capetta (Raritan, N.J.) added an RBI double before crossing home plate on a couple of errors for a 4-0 lead.

In Game Two, Salve Regina (6-6) scored two first-inning runs without benefit of a hit. Kendall Duprey (Cranston, R.I.) made it a 3-0 game in the third with her sacrifice fly to left field. The Nor'easters (1-1) chipped away with a run in the fourth and four in the sixth with the biggest blow coming from a bases-clearing double from first baseman Kate Wilmot (Walpole, Mass.). Wilmot finished with four runs batted in. Makenzy Herron (Boylston, Mass.) singled in Wilmot for a 5-3 advantage before the University of New England added two more insurance runs in the seventh.

Junior Jordan Strum (Somersworth, N.H.), who pitched a complete game in a loss in Game One, came in as a reliever in Game Two to earn the victory (1-1).

Salve Regina opens a six-game series with Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., on Saturday before hosting the Hawks on Sunday at Toppa Field. UNE begins its conference slate with a four-game set against Suffolk University this weekend.