Softball Drops Pair to Simmons

BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball squad dropped a pair of contests against Simmons College in a non-conference matchup on Wednesday afternoon at Carr Diamond. The Leopards fell 7-2 in game one and dropped the nightcap, 13-2.

With the two wins the Sharks improve to 6-5, while the Leopards fall to 4-9. This was the first meeting between the neighboring schools since the 2006 season.

GAME ONE: Simmons 7, Wentworth 2
Wentworth took a 2-0 advantage in its half of the first frame on a single by senior Karsyn Sawyer (Chatham, N.Y.) and a double sent into right field from freshman Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.). However, Simmons answered in the following inning with four runs of its own. Junior Alison Gauvin (Whitefield, Maine) plated the Sharks' first run on a single to left. With the bases loaded, a triple into the right field gap from senior Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.) gave Simmons a 4-2 advantage after two.

The Sharks struck again in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run over the center field fence from freshman Taylor LeBrun (Milford, Mass.) to stretch the lead to 6-2. A double to right from freshman Dominique Ortiz (Lawrence, Mass.) plated Simmons' seventh run and sealed the 7-2 win.

Freshman Michaela Reeves (Reading, Mass.) earned the win as she pitched four innings and gave up two runs on four hits. Sophomore Cat Record (Cotiut, Mass.) nabbed her first save of the season and pitched three innings of relief as she allowed one hit. Reeves and Caracciolo led the Sharks, going for a combined 4-for-6 with one run and three RBI.

Freshman Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) pitched seven innings in the loss and allowed seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits while she walked and punched out two batters. Sawyer led the Black & Gold, going 2-for-2 with a run plated.

GAME TWO: Simmons 13, Wentworth 2 (5 innings)
An eight-run second frame capped off a total of 10 runs through the first two frames from Simmons. In the top of the second, the Sharks knocked in its first three runs on three consecutive singles and later capitalized on a Wentworth error which scored a pair of runs and rounded out and eight-run inning.

Wentworth grabbed two runs back in its half of the second to bring the score to 10-2. Freshman Libby White (Pittsfield, Mass.) plated on a fielder's choice, while sophomore Megan Berryman's (Middleboro, Mass.) single to center brought in the second run.

A double into the left field gap from junior Briana Rastello (Salem, N.H.) and LeBrun's triple that sailed down the left field line added an additional three runs which would seal the 13-2 win for Simmons.

Freshman Tori Gomes (Taunton, Mass.) earned the win for Simmons and allowed two runs on three hits through four innings pitched while she walked four and struck out one. Rastello and Caracciolo powered the Sharks, going a combined 4-for-6 with six runs plated and four RBI.

Rutkey allowed 13 runs (nine earned) on six hits and walked 10 batters while Norquist pitched two relief innings and allowed one hit and struck out two batters. Sophomore Rachel Wilcutt (Tilton, N.H.) led the Black & Gold, going 1-for-2 with a run scored, while Berryman went 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Wentworth heads to Curry on Saturday at 1:00 p.m., while Simmons faces Lasell at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6.