Softball Takes Two From Mass. Maritime in Northern Opener

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.) had four hits and classmate Haley Sabino (Topsfield, Mass.) drove in four runs to help the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team run its win streak to three games with a doubleheader sweep over Massachusetts Maritime Academy. The Leopards took the first game, 7-2, and won 15-5 (five innings) in the nightcap.

GAME ONE:  Wentworth 7, Mass. Maritime 2
The teams battled through a brisk two and a half innings before Wentworth plated a pair of runs to take a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Vanessa Weymouth (Fremont, N.H.) provided the Leopards with the lead whejn she delivered a two-run single to left-center which scored senior Heather Pinkston (Concord, Calif.) and freshman Emily Winter (Stratford, Conn.). Wentworth had a chance to add to its lead as the Leopards loaded the bases with two outs, however a fly out ended the threat.

Mass. Maritime sliced the lead in half in the top of the fourth when sophomore Sarah Monteiro (North Falmouth, Mass.) led off with a double and scored when sophomore Carli Thomas (Brewster, Mass.) laid down a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error.

In the bottom of the fifth the Leopards began to distance themselves, scoring three times as Willcutt drove in a run with a single which also allowed a second run to score on an error and Sabino delivered a single which scored Willcutt.

The Buccaneers tacked made it 5-2 in the top of the sixth on an RBI single from Thomas, however Sabino delivered a two-run single in the home half of the inning to make it a 7-2 game. Mass. Maritime had runners at second and third in the top of the seventh inning with one out, however freshman Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) ended the game with a foul out and a strikeout.

Norquist improved to 4-2 on the season as she allowed a pair of runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out nine batters in the win. Sabino was 2-for-2 with three RBI and Willcutt was 2-for-2.

Thomas took the loss for Mass. Maritime, allowing seven runs on eight hits and striking out three in six innings. Five different players had hits for the Buccaneers.

GAME TWO:  Wentworth 15, Mass. Maritime 5 (five innings)
Wentworth lasted little time getting on the board in the second game, scoring eight times in the bottom of the first inning. Weymouth had a two-run double, Willcutt had an RBI single, Sabino hit a three-run triple, Winter drove in a run after reaching on an error, and Pinkston drove in a run with a ground out.

The Leopards bumped their lead to 14-0 in the second inning as freshman Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.), and senior Karsyn Sawyer (Chatham, N.Y.) each had an RBI single, Pinkston drew a bases-loaded walk, Weymouth had a sacrifice fly to drive in a run, and Willcutt drove in a pair of runs. An inning later the hosts made it a 15-0 game as Sabino drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a groundout, and scored when Winter reached on an error.

Mass. Maritime scored a run in the top of the fourth as an infield single from senior Brittany Driscoll (Spencer, Mass.) drove in freshman Emily Goodwin (Halifax, Mass.) and added four in the top of the fifth on a two-run single from sophomore Emily Bacchiocchi (Wareham, Mass.) and RBI singles from Goodwin and sophomore Olivia Norton (Quincy, Mass.).

Rutkey notched her first collegiate win as she allowed four runs on four hits in four-plus innings of work before giving way to Norquist, who allowed a run and struck out a batter in the fifth. Willcutt was 2-for-3 with three RBI while Rutkey helped her cause at the plate with a pair of hits. Sabino was 1-for-1 with three walks and three RBI.

Thomas took the loss for Mass. Maritime, allowing 15 runs (12 earned) on nine hits in four innings. Goodwin and Driscoll each had two hits for the Buccaneers.

Wentworth opens Commonwealth Coast Conference play on Wednesday when the Leopards host the University of New England. Mass. Maritime hosts Maine-Presque Isle on Sunday.