Softball Falls to Roger Williams, 9-2

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with a loss at home Wednesday afternoon.

The Bears were limited to four hits and fell to Roger Williams University, 9-2, at Alumni Park.

BSU (15-20) went 9-12 against non-conference opponents this season. The Hawks, who had not visited Bridgewater State since 1985, improved to 22-13 with the road win.

The teams met for the first time since 2020 in Florida, and the Bears own a 4-2 lead in the series.

Roger Williams scored single runs in the first two innings, then added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a 4-0 lead. The Hawks then added five runs with two outs in the seventh inning.

Junior Hailey Williams (Vernon, Conn.) was 3-for-3 to lead the Hawks while senior Kayleigh O'Connor (Southington, Conn.) had two hits and three RBI, junior Shannon Starratt (Lake George, N.Y.) had a pair of hits and freshman Madison Moran (Attleboro, Mass.) drove in three runs.

BSU was limited to a double by freshman Trinity Andelin (Wilmette, Ill.) and singles by junior Lily Gagnon (East Haven, Conn.), junior Sidney Schwartz (Chelmsford, Mass.) and sophomore Aubrey Carberry (Dartmouth, Mass.).

The visitors took a 1-0 lead when Williams walked, went to second on an error and to third on a flyout before scoring on a sacrifice fly to right by Moran.

Roger Williams scored a run the second sophomore McKenzie Foley (Hanover, Mass.) tripled to right and scored on a groundout.

The lead went to 3-0 in the fifth as freshman Grace Forsythe (Woburn, Mass.) singled with two outs, went to second on an error and scored on Williams' single to left.

The Hawks scored once more in the sixth as Starratt doubled, and with two outs, scored on a double to left by O'Connor.

BSU got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning with senior Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) reaching on a fielder's choice, then stealing second base before an RBI single up the middle by Carberry.

In the seventh, the first two Roger Williams hitters were retired, then the Hawks had five runs on five hits.

Williams and junior Lucy Maurao (Holliston, Mass.) singled and Starratt doubled in a run. Moran followed with a double to right-center for two runs.

A passed ball scored pinch runner Alexia Tsonis (New Bedford, Mass.), a freshman, and O'Connor finished the Hawks' scoring with a triple to right.

BSU scored a run in the final inning when senior Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice, went to third on a double down the left-field line by Andelin and scored on a groundout.

Senior Natalie Lundari (Flemington, N.J.), the second of four pitchers, was the winner for the Hawks. She had a strikeout and allowed no hits in two innings.

Gagnon took the loss, going 6 2/3 innings before Andelin finished the seventh inning.

The Bears conclude the regular season with Senior Day on Saturday as they host MASCAC foe Anna Maria College at 12:30 p.m. at Alumni Park.

Roger Williams will be at Gordon College Saturday for a noon Conference of New England doubleheader.