Softball Edges Eastern Nazarene, 3-2; Posts 6-3 Win over Husson

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Bridgewater State University softball team posted a pair of victories on Wednesday at The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.

The Bears (4-3) edged Eastern Nazarene College, 3-2, and recorded a 6-3 win over Husson University.

Bridgewater State 3, Eastern Nazarene 2

Senior pitcher Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) came on in relief of sophomore starter Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) to earn the win in the circle for the Bears. Reichert allowed one unearned run on four hits over three innings with a walk and two strikeouts. Klingel worked the first five innings and gave up just one run on three hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts.

The game was scoreless for the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, graduate centerfielder Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) tripled down the left field line with two outs and came around to score the first run of the game on an RBI single by junior second baseman Kerrin McLaughlin (Haverhill, Mass.).

The Lions knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore second baseman Alexys Giddings (Kuna, Idaho) tripled to deep rightfield and scored on an RBI single by junior left fielder Alex Schwenger (Danville, Calif.).

The game remained tied until the eighth with the extra inning tie-breaker rule in effect. Reichert sacrificed senior right fielder Emma Healy (Plymouth, Mass.) to third and, following an out, Ruprecht ripped a base hit up the middle to put the Bears on top. Ruprecht then came all the way around to score on McLaughlin's double to deep right to give the Bears a 3-1 lead.

The Lions pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth as Giddings stole third and raced home on the back end of a double steal. ENC had runners at first and second with two outs, but Reichert fanned the final batter of the game to secure the 3-2 victory for Bridgewater State.

Ruprecht went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while McLaughlin was 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs batted in. Freshman designated hitter Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.), freshman shortstop Riley Fitzgerald (Swansea, Mass.) and sophomore left fielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for the Bears. Marcotte went 2-for-4 with a double, while Fitzgerald singled twice in three at bats and added a sacrifice bunt. Jolly was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

Sophomore pitcher Jennelle Munoz (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) went the distance in the circle for Eastern Nazarene. Munoz (1-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on ten hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Junior centerfielder Taylor Brandt (Napa, Calif.) was the only Lion with multiple hits as she went 2-for-4 with a double.

Bridgewater State 6, Husson 3

Reichert (3-1) picked up the complete game win in the Bears' win over Husson as she allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and eight strikeouts. Reichert tossed shutout ball over the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh.

The Bears scored six runs over the first four innings. Morgan Cournoyer and Marcotte rapped RBI singles in the second while McLaughlin knocked in a run with an RBI single in the third. Bridgewater strung together five hits in a three-run fourth. Jolly led off the frame with a bunt single, moved to second on a ground out and to third on Fitzgerald's infield hit. Healy's bunt single plated Jolly and graduate catcher Madison Synan (Quincy, Mass.) followed with an RBI double to score Fitzgerald. An RBI infield single by Ruprecht brought home Healy to make it a 6-0 game.

Husson rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Junior centerfielder Katie Raymond (Rochester, N.H.) broke up Ruprecht's shutout bid with an RBI single while the Eagles also scored a run on an RBI groundout. Sophomore third baseman Kenzie Dore (Holden, Maine) connected for an RBI triple to round out the scoring.

Raymond finished 2-for-3 with a walk, run and an RBI to pace the Eagles' offense.

Junior pitcher McKenna Smith (Old Town, Maine) pitched very well in relief for the Eagles. Smith allowed just two base runners, an infield hit and a hit batsman, and struck out five in 2 2/3 innings of work.

The Bears wrap up their trip to The Spring Games on Thursday when they take on RPI at three o'clock and Coast Guard Academy at 5:15.