Softball Drops Pair of Games to RIC

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The visiting Rhode Island College softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with Bridgewater State University on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Park. The Anchorwomen posted a 6-0 shutout in game one and completed the sweep with a 6-3 victory in the night cap.

The Anchorwomen improve to 7-9 on the season with the sweep, while the Bears fall to 4-18.

Game One: Rhode Island College 6, Bridgewater State 0

Sophomore righthander Abby Kidd (Granby, Conn.) tossed a complete game five hit shutout to lead the Anchorwomen to the 6-0 victory in game one. Kidd (5-4) did not issue a walk and struck out 12.

The Anchorwomen pushed across an unearned run in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Senior catcher Alexis Boyce (Wolcott, Conn.) walked to lead off the frame and advanced to second when senior designated player Cassidy Schoen (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) reached on an error. After a fielder's choice ground out, freshman left fielder Sophia Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) ripped an RBI double down the left field line to plate Schoen with the first run of the game.

Junior third baseman Victoria Young (Sterling, Conn.) tripled to the warning track in fight field to lead off the fifth inning and raced home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior centerfielder Avery Katz (Brookfield, Conn.).

RIC extended the lead to 4-0 in the sixth on a two-run single by Young. Schoen launched a two-run double off the left field fence in the seventh to round out the scoring.

Bridgewater left six runners on base in the game. The Bears had runners at second and third with nobody out in the second inning but were unable to score. Bridgewater also stranded runners at the corners in the fourth.

Katz (2-3, SB, RBI), Kidd (2-4) and Young (2-3, 3B, R, 2RBI) notched two hits apiece to pace the RIC 11-hit attack.

Senior designated player Kerrin McLaughlin (Haverhill, Mass.) was the lone multi hit producer for the Bears as she singled twice in three at bats.

BSU junior righthander Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings with a walk and two strikeouts.

Game Two: Rhode Island College 6, Bridgewater State 3

The Bears got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Senior first baseman Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.) singled with one out, advanced to second on a ground out and came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Riley Fitzgerald (Swansea, Mass.).

The Anchorwomen pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on an RBI singled by Boyce and an RBI groundout to jump ahead, 2-1.

Bridgewater capitalized on a pair of RIC errors to knot the game at 2-2 in the home half of the fourth.

The Anchormen answered with two runs in the top of the fifth to reclaim the lead, 4-2. Katz singled to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and trotted home on an RBI single by freshman second baseman Noelle Simmons (Manchester, N.H.). Junior first baseman Katelyn Ashe (Colchester, Conn.) followed with a long double to right field to bring around Simmons all the way from first.

RIC extend the lead to 5-2 in the sixth as freshman left fielder Sophia Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) doubled with two outs, advanced to third on an error and scampered home on another BSU miscue.

The Bears got one back in the bottom of the sixth. Senior catcher Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) smacked a double to right field and was replaced on the base paths by junior pinch runner Madison Flamme (Bethel, Conn.). Silva followed with an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to 5-3. Kidd came on in relief and gave up a hit to the first batter she faced but induced a harmless foul out to end the inning.

Back-to-back base hits by Ashe and Boyce put runners at the corners with nobody out in the top of the seventh. Schoen then lined a sacrifice fly to left field to give the visitors a three-run cushion at 6-3.

Kidd set down the Bears in order in the seventh to record her first save of the season.

Freshman righthander Gabby Cunha (Cranston, R.I.) picked up her first collegiate win for the Anchorwomen. Cunha (1-0) allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits over 5 2/3 innings. She did not issue a walk and fanned two.

Simmons (2-4, 2R, RBI), Ashe (2-4, 2B, R, RBI) and Boyce (2-4, RBI) recorded two hits apiece in game two for RIC. Katz went 1-for-2 with two walks, two stolen bases and a run. The Anchorwomen stole five bases in the nightcap.

Silva went 2-for-3 with a stolen base, run and an RBI to highlight the BSU offense in game two.

Sophomore righthander McKayla Cusack (West Haven. Conn.) worked into the fourth inning for Bridgewater State but did not factor in the decision. Cusack gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in 3 1/3 innings of work. Sophomore righty Seani Silva (Braintree, Mass.) suffered the loss in relief as she allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits over 2 1/3 innings with a walk and a strikeout.

The Bears travel to Framingham State University on Friday afternoon for a two o'clock Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with the defending MASCAC Tournament champion Rams. The Anchorwomen head to UMass Dartmouth on Saturday for a noontime Little East Conference (LEC) twinbill with the Corsairs.