Softball Falls to Wheaton, 9-0

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) tossed a complete game one-hitter to lead the visiting Wheaton College softball team to a 9-0 victory over Bridgewater State University in game ine of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at rainy Alumi Park.

Game two of the twinbill was halted in the middle of the third inning due to darkness and is not official. The Bears, who have lost five straight, held a 6-2 lead when the game was stopped.

Knopf (3-3) did not allow a hit until there was one out in the bottom of the sixth. The senior righthander lost her bid for a no-hitter when Katie Tobin (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) singled to left. Pinch runner Savanah DuBois (New Bedford, Mass.) stole both second and third before being stranded.

The only other runner BSU had was Makayla Ansell (Menifee, Calif.), who was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning. She was caught stealing for the second out of the frame.

Knofp struck out 14 batters, including eight of the first nine hitters she faced, and did not issue a walk.

The Lyons opened a 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

Bryanna Agar (Averill Park, N.Y.) doubled to right-center and scored on an outfield error.

Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) had an RBI double to score Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.), who had singled, and an infield hit by Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) brought in the fourth run.

Wheaton made it 5-0 with a run in the fourth as Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) doubled to center and came home on a single to center by Oliveira.

The Lyons added two runs in the fifth inning as Oliveira singled to left-center, scoring Rohan, who had singled, and Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.), who had walked.

The scoring concluded in the seventh inning when Barry doubled in Zito and scored on a wild pitch.

Barry led Wheaton, which had 17 hits, by going 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles.

Oliveira (four RBI), Molinari and Rohon contributed three hits each for the Lyons.

Bears' pitching allowed nine runs on 17 hits over seven innings with six walks and a pair of strikeouts.

Wheaton stranded 11 runners on base.

BSU (7-9) is scheduled to open the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference season Thursday at home with a doubleheader against Framingham State University at 3 p.m.

The Bears lost to the Rams in the championship round of the MASCAC tournament last season.

Wheaton plays a doubleheader at Johnson & Wales on Friday at 4 p.m.