Softball Drops Pair of Games to Wheaton

NORTON, Mass. – The Wheaton College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with visiting Bridgewater State University on Tuesday afternoon at Clark Field. Wheaton posted a 7-3 victory in the opener and completed the sweep with a 7-3 win in game two.

The Lyons improve to 10-4 with the sweep. The Bears, who have dropped 12 straight, fall to 2-14 on the season. Wheaton holds a 34-30 advantage in the all-time series.

Game One: Wheaton 7, Bridgewater State 3

Sophomore left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) went 3-for-3 with a double, two stolen bases, two runs and an RBI to lead Wheaton to the 7-3 win in game one. Junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) also recorded multiple hits for the Lyons. Oliveira went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, two runs and two RBI.

Junior righthander Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) went the distance in the circle for the Lyons to record her fifth win of the season. Knopf (5-1) allowed three runs (one earned) on seven hits with one walk and eight strikeouts.

The Lyons jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on an Oliviera RBI single and back-to-back sacrifice flies by junior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.) and sophomore centerfielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.).

The Bears got on the board with as run in the top of the fifth inning. Senior catcher Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) led off the frame with a double. Junior pinch runner Madison Flamme (Bethel, Conn.) then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a Kailey Collins-Fiore (Fr., LaGrange, N.Y.) RBI bunt single.

Wheaton extend the lead to 6-1 with three runs in the home half of the fifth on an RBI double by Zito and consecutive RBI singles by Oliveira and Ceddia.

Bridgewater State pushed across a pair of unearned in the sixth to make it a 6-3 game. Junior centerfielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) started the rally with a double and, one out later, advanced to third on a base hit by senior first baseman Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.). After Silva stole second, Jolly raced home when Dana reached on a throwing error. Silva then scored on an RBI fielder's choice ground out.

Freshman Ashlynn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) belted a pinch-hit home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth to account for the final score of 7-3.

Sophomore righthander McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) allowed seven runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings in the setback for Bridgewater State. Cusack (1-4) walked two and fanned two.

Collins-Fiore was the only Bear with multiple hits in game one as she singed twice in two at bats.

Game Two: Wheaton 7, Bridgewater State 3

Freshman righthander Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) tossed four innings of scoreless relief to lead the Lyons to the 7-3 win in game two and the sweep of the twinbill. Arcand (5-1) gave up just a hit and walk while striking out three.

Zito (2-4), Oliveira (3-4) and Ceddia (2-4, 2R, RBI) each recorded multiple hits to lead Wheaton's 12-hit attack in the nightcap.

Bridgewater State got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning. The Bears loaded the bases with nobody out on back-to-back bunt singles by left fielder Emily Marcotte and Flamme followed by a walk to Jolly. Marcotte then scrambled home when Dana grounded into a double play.

Wheaton tied it up in the bottom of the second. Junior left fielder Allison Weston (West Islip, N.Y.) tripled and scored when Arcand reached on a throwing error.

The Bears reclaimed the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. Marcotte singled to lead off the frame, moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on Flamme's base hit. Flamme then stole second with Marcotte scoring as the throw from the catcher got away. Following another wild pitch, Jolly knocked in Flamme on an RBI fielder's choice.

The Lyons answered with four runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 5-3 lead. Freshman designated player Riley Dolan (Coram, N.Y.) and Arcand connected for RBI singles in the frame while two runs also scored on a crucial two-out BSU throwing error.

Wheaton capitalized on another two-out error to extend the lead to 6-3 with an unearned run in the fourth. The Lyons capped of the scoring with an RBI single by Ceddia in the sixth.

Burt got the start in the circle for Wheaton but did not factor in the decision. Burt gave up three runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Junior righthander Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Con) worked the first five innings for Bridgewater State in the loss. Klingel (1-7) allowed six runs (three earned) on ten hits. She did not issue a walk.

Marcotte (2-4, 2R), Flamme (2-4, SB, R) and Dana (2-3) finished with two hits apiece as the trip combined for six of the Bears' seven hits in game two.

In upcoming action, the Bears travel to Salve Regina University on Thursday afternoon for a four o'clock doubleheader with the Seahawks.