Wentworth Institute of Technology Athletics

WNE Rallies Past Softball in CNE Tournament Opener

Golden Bears rally past Leopards, 8-7, with seventh-inning comeback; Lexi Lefkowski, Jess Rowe combine for six hits and six RBI

WNE Rallies Past Softball in CNE Tournament Opener
Box Score
May 7, 2025

DUDLEY, Mass. – In each team's respective opener of the Conference of New England Tournament, the third-seeded Western New England Golden Bears softball team used a three-run seventh inning to rally past sixth-seeded Wentworth Institute of Technology by an 8-7 score on Wednesday afternoon.

The Leopards wrap day one of the tournament now holding a 20-21 overall mark. The Golden Bears improve to 23-15-1 overall.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

  • The Leopards broke the scoreless tie in the second inning as a solo homer by Jess Rowe marked an initial 1-0 lead before an RBI single by Brianna Miller plated another runner. Wentworth doubled the lead to 4-0 as a double by Lexi Lefkowski with the bags loaded brought home a pair.
  • The Golden Bears cut into the deficit in the third as a double by Marley Rodriguez plated a pair of runners, marking a 4-2 score. In the fourth, a single by Lefkowski with two runners on brought one home, pushing the Black & Gold's lead to 5-2 before a single by Rowe with the bases loaded plated another runner, extending the score to 6-2.
  • WNE dwindled the deficit to just one at 6-5 in the back half of the frame as a pair of singles, with the second of the two combined with errors, ran home a total of three runs. In the sixth, however, the Leopards answered as another single by Rowe sent home one of two runners, marking a 7-5 game.
  • After the Black & Gold left a runner stranded at second in the seventh inning, the Golden Bears placed two on base early and brought one home on an RBI single by Riley Kane. A double by Kim Baumann plated an additional runner, knotting the score at 7-all, before a single by Ava Barnhart plated the game's winning run at 8-7.
  • Lefkowski and Rowe paced Wentworth's offense with three hits and three RBI apiece while Miller accounted for two runs scored. In the circle, Rowe struck out a batter and gave up five hits in four frames of work before Julia Malowitz threw two innings in relief, surrendering one hit. Maddy Longoria took the loss, pitching the seventh inning in which she surrendered three hits.

SERIES NOTES:

  • Today marked the 38th meeting between the two teams. They've now met in the postseason in each of the last three seasons.

NEXT UP:

  • The Leopards will play tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. at a site and time to be determined by the rest of Wednesday's results.

 

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