Softball's Split Features Thrilling Walk-Off Win and Program Milestone

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – A split in games for the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (5-1) resulted in the team's first loss of the 2023 campaign to Carnegie Mellon (4-3) after a thrilling walk-off win against Heidelberg (2-4) in extra innings.

Graduate student Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) also recorded her 100^th hit for the Black & Gold in the Leopards' second game of the day, becoming the ninth player in program history to do so.

 
GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 6, HEIDELBERG 5 (FINAL – 8 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A spurt of Wentworth runs began in the bottom of the first inning, when a single by freshman Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) led to a score by senior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lakes, N.J.), marking a 1-0 score.
• With graduate student Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) on base, senior Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.) sent a ball over the fence, bringing in Pina and herself to extend the Leopards' lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third before Igawa came home following a fly out by sophomore Katie Kranz (Bedford, Mass.), raising the score to 4-0.
• Heidelberg picked up a score in the top of the fourth inning before exploding for three more an inning later, marking a 4-4 tie. Heidelberg notched a run in the top of the seventh inning to give themselves a 5-4 lead later.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Wentworth responded, as a sacrifice fly from sophomore Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) led in freshman Quincy Bolduc (Deerfield, N.H.) to score, tying the score at five apiece. Evened up after seven, the game went the extra.
• After Wentworth shut down Heidelberg defensively in the top of the eighth inning, freshman Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) found herself on base with Pettenger at the plate. The senior blasted the ball to the outfield, sending Schriver home and earning the Leopards a 6-5 win.
• Five Leopards recorded RBI in the win, with Pettenger (3-4, 1 RBI) and Bollentin (2-4, 2 RBI, HR) leading offensively. On the mound, senior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) and Shriver split time, striking out one each.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

GAME TWO: CARNEGIE MELLON 11, WENTWORTH 1 (FINAL – 5 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• A long first inning resulted in seven runs scored for Carnegie Mellon, as six different student-athletes recorded RBI in the run. The inning finished with a 7-0 score.
• In the top of the third, Beverly notched a clean home run with no one on base, putting the Leopards on the board in a 7-1 score.
• In the bottom of the third, Carnegie Mellon continued to bring runs in, as the Tartans were led offensively by freshman Kira Monji (San Diego, Calif.), who finished the day going 3-3 at the plate with 3 RBI. The scores marked an 11-1 advantage for the Tartans.
• Beverly slammed a single towards third base in the top of the fifth inning, earning herself her 100^th career hit in a Leopard uniform. Beverly led Wentworth offensively, going 2-3 with a RBI at the plate.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards are off tomorrow and shoot back to Auburndale Thursday afternoon for dates with Concordia-M'head (2:00 p.m.) and Roanoke (4:30 p.m.).

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