Softball Splits Pair of Games to Open 2010 Season

KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- The Bridgewater State College softball team split a pair of games to open the 2010 season at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Florida on Saturday afternoon.  

The Bears dropped a 7-3 decision to Salve Regina University in the season opener and then posted a 4-2 victory over Medaille College in the second game of the day.  

In the opener, Salve scored a run in the first, four more in the second on a grand slam and a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-run homer as the Seahawks came away with the 7-3 victory.

Senior Jamie Ducinski (Duxbury, MA) suffered the loss in the circle for the Bears as she allowed five runs on four hits in three innings.  Ducinski (0-1) also walked four and struck out two.

Fellow senior Kaitlin Morelli (Milford, MA) pitched well in relief giving up two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking none in four innings of work.

The Bears scored a run in the second inning on an RBI double by senior Lauren Cucinotta (Franklin, MA).  Cucinotta also drove in a pair of runs in the fourth with a two-run single as she went 2-for-2 in the opener with a walk and three runs batted in.

Senior Meghan Noyes (Stoughton, MA) also had two hits as she was 2-for-3 with a run.

In the second game, Bridgewater jumped on top with three runs in the first and held on for the 4-2 win.

Freshman Meghan Dunn (Colchester, CT) pitched well in her collegiate debut as she went six plus innings for the win.  Dunn (1-0) gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Cucinotta once again led the Bears offensive attack as she was 2-for-3 with a run and a stolen base.

Cucinotta started the first inning rally with a one-out single followed by a stolen base.  A Noyes single and stolen base put runners at second and third.  Sophomore Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, MA) plated Cucinotta with an RBI single and, one out later, junior Kate Youngstrom (Holden, MA) doubled in Noyes and Ferreira to give BSC the 3-0 lead.

Medialle scored an unearned run in the fourth, but Bridgewater answered with a run in the sixth on an RBI single by junior Bridget Engwer (Wrentham, MA). 

After Dunn gave up a leadoff double in the seventh, Morelli was called in out of the bullpen to close out the game.  An RBI double cut the Bears lead to 4-2, but the batter was thrown out rounding too far off second base.  Morelli then retired two of the next three hitters to record her first career save.

Youngstrom also had two hits in the win over Medaille as she went 2-for-3 with the two-run double, a single and stolen base.