Softball Downs WPI, Rockford to Improve to 10-0

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – The Bridgewater State University softball team wrapped up their undefeated Spring Break trip to Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida on Thursday as the Bears posted a pair of wins over WPI and Rockford College.

The Bears (10-0) blanked the Engineers of WPI, 3-0, and then down Rockford, 8-1.

In the first game, BSU starter Meghan Dunn (Colchester, Conn.) struck out five batters, all looking, while allowing just three hits in six innings of work to earn her fourth win of the season.

Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) was called in after the Engineers put two runners on with nobody out in the seventh.  White induced a big double play ground out, and then, after a walk, retired the final batter of the game to record her first save of the season.

All three of the Bridgewater State runs were unearned in the contest.  In the second inning, Stephanie Burns (North Attleboro, Mass.) and Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.) each singled to put runners on second and third with two outs.  Pinch hitter Jessica Laudati (Berkley, Mass.) then hit a pop up to second that was dropped allowing both Burns and Bettencourt to score.

The Bears upped their lead to 3-0 in the sixth as Burns singled with one out and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Burns then stole third and came around to score on an errant throw by the WPI catcher.

Burns and Bettencourt finished with two hits apiece to pace the Bears.  Burns also walked as she reached safely in all three plate appearances.

Allie Hardy (West Townsend, Mass.) was saddled with the loss for the Crimson and Grey while Erin Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass.) struck out seven and gave up just two hits in five innings of relief. Julian Fekete (Belgrade, Maine) went 2-for-4 at the plate for the Engineers.

In game two against Rockford, Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, Mass.) went 4-for-4 with her sixth home run of the season to lead the Bears' ten-hit attack.  Shaw belted a three-run homer in the fourth and also doubled home a run in BSU's three-run second inning.

White went the distance in the circle to pick up her sixth win of the season. She gave up just one run on two hits with five walks and eight strikeouts.

Emily Messina (Plymouth, Mass.), Brianna Strecker (Waterford, Conn.), Jasmyn McCone (Taunton, Mass.) and Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, Mass.) also drove in runs for the Bears, while Burns added two more hits as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.

In addition to her six home runs, Shaw finished the trip with a .552 (16-29) batting average and posted an impressive 1.310 slugging percentage.  She also notched four doubles, drove in 23 runs, scored eight and recorded a .629 on base percentage.