NEWPORT, R.I. – The visiting Bridgewater State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Salve Regina University on Sunday afternoon at Toppa Field.
The Bears (3-11) won the first game, 3-2, while the host Seahawks (5-8) earned the split with a 5-4 victory in the nightcap. The games were originally scheduled to be played at Bridgewater State, but were moved to Salve's Toppa Field due to poor field conditions. The Bears served as the home team for both games and the Seahawks batted first.
Game One
Bridgewater State rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to record the 3-2 come-from-behind victory in game one.
Junior pitcher Natalie Sorrenti (Bridgewater, Mass.) picked up the complete game victory in the circle for the Bears in the opener. Sorrenti (3-3) allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and a pair of strikeouts over seven innings.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth, freshman Alexandra Taylor (Hebron, Conn.) led off the frame with a base hit and senior pinch runner Mackenzie Holt (Gilroy, Calif.) came all the way around to score the game-tying run on sophomore Alexandra Ruprecht's (Kingston, Mass.) triple to the gap in right-centerfield. One batter later, Ruprecht raced home with the go-ahead run on an RBI ground out by freshman Megan Sharon (East Longmeadow, Mass.).
Salve had a golden opportunity to tie the game and even take the lead in the top of the seventh as they as they had a runner on third with nobody out. Sorrenti, however, induced a harmless foul out followed by a grounder back to the circle for the first two outs of the frame. A walk and a stolen base put the go-ahead run on second, but Sorrenti retired the next hatter on a ground out to third to secure the win.
The Seahawks opened the scoring on an RBI base hit by freshman Sam Farrell (Melrose, Mass.) in the top of the first. Bridgewater tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the third as junior Meghan Navarro (Taunton, Mass.) led off the frame with a double and later came around to score on junior Samantha Mulcahy's (Taunton, Mass.) RBI ground out.
Salve reclaimed the lead in the top of the six as senior Amanda Riley (Barrington, N.H.) singled to lead off the inning, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and scored on freshman Nikki Vanelli's (Quakertown, Pa.) sacrifice fly.
Taylor (2-for-3) and Ruprecht (2-for-3) each recorded multiple hits for the Bears.
Farrell and senior Lindsey Florent (New Bedford, Mass.) both went 2-for-3 to highlight the Seahawk offense, while Riley reached twice with a single and a walk in three plate appearances.
Both team left six runners on base.
Sophomore Andi Nelson (Candia, N.H.) suffered the loss in the circle for Salve in game one. Nelson (4-2) gave up three runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts in the complete game effort.
Game Two
In game two, Salve jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on a two-out, two-run single by senior Holly Kathios (Pelham, N.H.). Both runs were unearned as the leadoff batter of the game reached on an error. Bridgewater answered in the bottom half of the inning and tied the game on senior Jenny Heller's (Taunton, Mass.) two-run double.
An RBI single by freshman Kendall Duprey (Cranston, R.I.) put Salve back on top in the fourth. Riley tripled home a run in the fifth and then scored on sophomore Jaycee Garrigan's (Uxbridge, Mass.) sacrifice bunt to extend the Seahawks' lead to 5-2.
The Bears cut the deficit to 5-4 with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor singled to start the inning and moved to third when Ruprecht reached on a throwing error. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Navarro plated Taylor and Ruprecht advanced to third on an errant throw by the right fielder. Ruprecht would score on a wild pitch to make it a one-run game.
Bridgewater's comeback bid came up short, however, as Nelson came on in relief of sophomore starter Courtney Latta (Lowell, Mass.) in the seventh and set down the Bears in order to pick up her first save of the season.
Latta (1-2) allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits over six innings of work to record her first win of the season. She walked five and fanned four.
Riley went 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs and an RBI to pace Salve's ten-hit attack in game two. Latta (2-for-3) and Duprey (2-for-3) also had multiple hits for the Seahawks.
Heller went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI to highlight the BSU offense. Mulcahy and senior Rebecca Uschmann (Feeding Hills, Mass.) each walked twice.
Freshman pitcher Kelley Reichert (Milford, Mass.) went the distance in the circle for the Bears in game two. Reichert (0-5) gave up five runs (three earned) on ten hits with no walks and one strikeout in seven innings of work.
Both teams left five runners on base.
In upcoming action, the Bears host UMass Boston on Thursday afternoon with game one of the twinbill getting underway at three. The Seahawks also entertain UMass Boston on Tuesday afternoon with game one of the doubleheader starting at four.