Softball Splits Non-Conference Twinbill with RIC

Providence, R.I. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with host Rhode Island College on Thursday afternoon (and evening) at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

RIC (2-8) fell, 12-11, to the Bears (8-4) in game one, before rallying to take the nightcap, 12-8. The teams combined for 43 hits and 24 walks in the two games.

Sophomore left fielder Samantha LoPilato (Medford, Mass.) paced BSU, hitting .667 on the day (4-for-6) with three RBI. Sophomore designated player Breanna Shaffer (Plainville, Mass.) led the visitors with four RBI on a 5-for-10 day from the plate. Sophomore first baseman Kelly McCarthy (Burlington, Mass.) went 4-for-8 with a triple, a run and a pair of RBI, while senior shortstop Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.) was 4-for-9 with a triple, three runs and three RBI.

Junior catcher Tori Lussier (North Franklin, Conn.) led Rhode Island College by going 5-for-6 with a double and five RBI.

RIC junior Katelyn McCaughey (Warwick, R.I.) also had a strong offensive performance by going 3-for-6 with three RBI. Senior third baseman Justina Thoma (Canterbury, Conn.) went 3-for-7 with three doubles, four runs scored and two RBI.

Game one saw the Anchorwomen jump out to a quick 1-0 lead in the home half of the first following a RBI single by Lussier. Lussier then knocked in another run in the third to give RIC the 2-0 advantage after three innings.

The Bears responded by scoring three in the top of the fourth with LoPilato driving in a pair of run, but quickly gave the lead back, by walking in the tying run in the home half of the frame.

BSU outscored the Anchorwomen, 6-1, over the next two frames, to build a 9-4 advantage going in to what proved to be a wild seventh inning.  Sophomore second baseman Courtney Leddy (Saugus, Mass.) had a two-run single in the fifth, while Shaffer and senior left fielder Jessica Laudati (Berkley, Mass.) had run scoring singles in the sixth.

An RBI single by LoPilato and a two-run triple off the bat of Bettencourt in the top of the seventh extended the BSU advantage to a comfortable 12-4 with only three outs to go. The Anchorwomen mounted a late rally, knocking in seven runs on seven hits in their final at-bat, but it wouldn't be enough as the Bears held on for the 12-11 victory.

Sophomore pitcher Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, N.Y.) picked up the victory (3-1) with freshman Alexandra Wright (Lakeville, Mass.) notching her second save of the season. McCaughey was on the mound for the Anchorwomen and picked up the loss (0-5).

The second game saw the Anchorwomen open a 4-1 advantage after one inning. Bridgewater scored three runs in both the top of the third and fourth innings to take a 7-4 advantage, only to see the Anchorwomen score seven in the bottom of the frame to take the 11-7 lead.

McCarthy singled in a run and Laudati added a sacrifice fly in the three-run third, while Shaffer's two-run single and McCarthy's RBI base hit highlighted the fourth.

A two-run double by Thoma and a bases loaded triple off the bat of freshman second baseman Michaela Paddock (Danbury, Conn.) spurred on RIC's seven-run uprising in the bottom of the fourth.

Shaffer drove in a run in the top of the fifth, but RIC responded with a Lussier RBI double to center field in the bottom of the frame. The teams played a scoreless sixth inning and sophomore pitcher Lauren Duvall (East Greenwich, RI) was able to secure the last three outs to earn the split for the Anchorwomen.

RIC sophomore starter Lauren DiScuillo (East Providence, R.I.) picked up her second win (2-1) of the year, while BSU sophomore starter Iliana Rivera (Naugatuck, CT) was saddled with the loss (3-2).

In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Johnson & Wales for a doubleheader on Friday, at 3:00 PM. Bridgewater State heads to Salem State University on Friday afternoon for a one o'clock MASCAC doubleheader with the Vikings.