Softball Fends Off Roger Williams in Pair of CNE Classics

BOSTON, Mass. – In a pair of conference classics on Tuesday afternoon, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team rallied past the Roger Williams Hawks by a 4-3 score in game one before fending off the Conference of New England rival by a 6-5 score in the nightcap.

With the sweep, the Leopards improve to 15-17 overall and 5-7 in CNE play. The Hawks fall to 18-12 overall (9-5 CNE).

GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 4, ROGER WILLIAMS 3 (FINAL – 8 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Hawks struck first in the opening frame as an RBI single with two outs plated a runner. The Leopards nearly got on the board in the back half of the inning as a ground-rule double by Kyla Igawa put Katelin Howe in scoring position.
• Wentworth tied the score in the second as a ground out brought Lauren Trostel to third. Trostel found home on a throwing error to mark a 1-1 score. In the third, the Black & Gold took a 2-1 edge as a double by Lexi Lefkowski brought home a score by Howe.
• Roger Williams knotted the score once more at two aside in the fourth on an RBI single through the right side. The two teams juked it out defensively the rest of the way, forcing an extra frame.
• In the top of the eighth, the Hawks took hold of a 3-2 edge on an RBI single by Vianna Chamberlin. In the back half of the inning, Wentworth loaded the bases with Kelsey Medalia on third, Trostel on second, and Katie Kranz on first. A double straight to left center by Brianna Miller brought home a pair of runs, earning the Leopards a 4-3 come-from-behind win.
• Howe led the offense with three hits while Trostel scored a pair of runs. In the circle, Jess Rowe pitched a complete game, striking out five batters and only surrendering five hits.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 6, ROGER WILLIAMS 5

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Roger Williams notched the game-opening run in the first inning on an RBI double by Shannon Starratt. In the third, an RBI single by Starratt doubled the advantage before a two-run homer by Chamberlin extended the lead to 4-0.
• The Leopards cut their deficit in half in the back half of the frame as a single by Lefkowski combined with an error drove home a pair of runs, marking a 4-2 game. In the fifth, an Igawa double plated a run by Miller, further cutting Wentworth's deficit at 4-3.
• The Black & Gold scored big in the sixth, first notching a tying run on an RBI double by Trostel. The rookie found her way home later on with a throwing error, giving the Leopards a 5-4 edge, before a single by Kranz later down the stretch plated a run by Jenna Roche, marking a 6-4 score.
• The Hawks attempted to claw back in the seventh as another RBI single by Starratt with two runners on brought one home, cutting their deficit to 6-5. However, the Leopards got a runner out on third on the next at-bat before Rowe made a diving grab in center field to register the final out.
• Eight Leopards recorded a hit while Miller led the base runners with a pair of scores. In the circle, Julie Schriver struck out a batter in three innings of work before, in relief, Julia Malowitz earned the win with three strikeouts and only five hits surrendered.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the 62^nd and 63^rd all-time meetings between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards welcome Framingham State to Carr Diamond on Thursday.

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