Softball Shuts Down Roger Williams to Salvage Split

BRISTOL, R.I. – Sophomore Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) of the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (15-13, 5-3 CCC) recorded four hits, including a home run, and two RBI, to help pace the Leopards to a split with Roger Williams (11-13, 2-6 CCC) Sunday afternoon, with the Hawks prevailing in game one 5-1 before the Leopards won the nightcap, 5-2.

GAME ONE: ROGER WILLIAMS 5, WENTWORTH 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Leopards took the initial lead in the opening inning on a solo home run by Igawa, marking a 1-0 score. However, the Hawks responded in the back half of the inning as singles by junior Jamie Wells (Castle Rock, Colo.) and senior Taylor Howell (Sandwich, Mass.) with runners in scoring position drove home a run apiece.
• Ahead 2-1, Roger Williams doubled their lead later in the inning as a double by sophomore Kayleigh O'Connor (Southington, Conn.) brought home two runs, extending the lead to 4-1. In the third frame, another single by Wells with a runner in scoring position brought her home, later pushing the lead to 5-1.
• Sophomore Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) struck out four batters and surrendered nine hits in six innings of work. Igawa led the offense with two hits, including a home run tacked to a RBI.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 5, ROGER WILLIAMS 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth quickly loaded the bases in the first inning, with an eventual ground out leading to a score by graduate student Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) to mark a 1-0 lead early.
• A single by Pettenger in the second inning drove home an inning-opening run to push the lead to 2-0. A single by Igawa drove home another score by Pettenger later in the frame extending the lead to 3-0 before a single by junior Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) drove home Igawa, pushing the lead to 4-0.
• The Leopards added to their advantage in the third inning as a double by Pettenger drove home a run by freshman Brianna Miller (West Haven, Conn.), marking a 5-0 game.
• Roger Williams got on the board in the seventh inning, attempting to claw back, but came up short in a 5-2 defeat as Rowe held down the defense in the circle. The junior struck out eight batters and only surrendered two hits while Pettenger (3-4, 2 RBI) and Igawa (2-4, RBI) led the Leopards at the plate.

SERIES NOTES:

• The Leopards have taken five of the last eight matchups between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts Salem State in non-conference play on Wednesday.

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