Salve Regina Takes Two From Softball

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Marissa Simpson went 6-for-7 with four runs scored and three RBI and junior Jen Cruver (North Haven, Conn.) pitched 10 shutout innings as the Salve Regina softball team swept Wentworth, 14-0 (five innings) and 5-0 in Commonwealth Coast Conference action on Carr Diamond.

The Seahawks came out of the gates with three runs in the first inning of the opener, thanks in part to RBI singles from junior Ali Muhlbronner (Glenside, Pa.) and junior Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.). Salve Regina tacked on five more in the second inning, thanks to a two-run single from freshman Laura Anne Dinan (Monterey, Mass.) – who wuld come around to score on a wild pitch – and a two-run home run from Quintana.

Scoring three runs in each of the next two innings, the Seahawks increased their lead to 14-0. In the third inning sophomore Jennifer Edine (Warwick, R.I.) delivered a sacrifice fly and Simpson had a two-run double. An inning later Salve Regina took advantage of a pair of Leopard errors and got a two-run double from senior Kristen Parolise (Hamden, Conn.).

Cruver improved to 13-11 after pitching three innings of two-hit, shutout ball. She walked two and struck out four. Simpson pitched the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. At the plate Simpson was 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Quintana was 2-for-2 with three RBI and Parolise was 2-for-2 with two RBI.

Freshman Sam Burgner (Dalton, Mass.) was tagged with the loss (6-15) after allowing 11 runs (nine earned) on nine hits, walking two and striking out one in three innings of work. Freshman Isabella Grassetti (Monson, Mass.) pitched the final two innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits.  Freshman Devinn Doherty (Bridgewater, Mass.), freshman Sam Curran (Quincy, Mass.), and senior Randi Swihart (Gardner, Mass.) had the Leopards' hits.

Simpson got the visitors on the board in the first inning of the nightcap as she launched a two-out home run to left-center. Salve Regina threatened in the third inning but left the bases loaded.

The game remained 1-0 until the fifth inning when the Seahawks scored three times. Quintana had a ground-rule double that scored Simpson while junior Megan Jakiela (Meriden, Conn.) scored two runs on a groundout. Salve Regina added a run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Jakiela.

Cruver improved to 14-11 as she scattered six hits and struck out seven. Simpson was 3-for-4 with and RBI, Muhlebronner was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored, and Jakiela drove in three runs.

Burgner allowed five runs on nine hits and struck out four to fall to 6-16 on the year. Offensively, the Leopards were led by freshman Liz Glavin (Ipswich, Mass.), who had a pair of hits.

With the wins Salve Regina improves to 16-12 overall and 11-3 in CCC play. The Seahawks step out of conference tomorrow to travel to UMass Dartmouth for a doubleheader. Wentworth falls to 10-21 (1-13) and hosts the University of New England on Saturday.