Softball Sweeps RIC

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The visiting Bridgewater State University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with New England rival Rhode Island College, 5-4 and 8-1, on Tuesday afternoon at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The Bears improve to 14-6 on the year as they snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Anchorwomen.  RIC falls to 7-6 on the season. 

Johnson went 5-for-6 with an RBI and a stolen base in the twinbill to lead the Anchorwomen.

Bridgewater State struck first in game one, scoring on a sacrifice fly in the top of the second from senior right fielder Stephanie Burns (North Attleboro, MA) to make it, 1-0. However, RIC answered back in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie the game at one as junior pitcher/first baseman Emily Johnson (Kingston, RI) ripped an RBI single that plated sophomore center fielder Stacy Pokora (Wilton, CT).

After being held in check through the first four innings, both offenses exploded in the fifth. Junior center fielder Jordan McDermott (East Bridgewater, MA) started the two-out rally for Bridgewater State in the top half of the frame with an RBI single that scored Burns. The next batter, sophomore second baseman Jasmyn McCone (Taunton, MA), laced an RBI single to center field that scored McDermott, and that was followed by an RBI double from junior third baseman Jennifer Shaw (Brockton, MA) that plated McCone and gave BSU a 4-1 lead.

Rhode Island College responded in the bottom half of the stanza with its own two-out rally. After a walk and single put runners on first and second, Pokora lined a base hit down the right field line to score junior right fielder Kristina Gingell (Pascoag, RI) and pull the Anchorwomen within two. That's when freshman third baseman Justina Thoma (Canterbury, CT) smacked a single to center field that knocked in both Pokora and junior second baseman Missy Jandreau (Plainville, CT), tying the game at four.

With both starting pitchers still in the game, both offenses went quietly through the sixth inning. With one out in the top of the seventh, freshman pinch hitter Jessica Laudati (Berkley, MA) belted a single to left field and then advanced to second base on an error. Freshman outfielder Emily Messina (Plymouth, MA), who replaced Laudati as the pinch runner at second, stole third base and then scored on a passed ball to put BSU on top, 5-4.

Bridgewater State sophomore starting pitcher Amber White (Middleboro, MA) shut the door on RIC in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory for the visitors.

White (8-2) tossed the complete game for BSU, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks, while striking out three.

RIC junior pitcher Jessica Borden (Lincoln, RI) got tagged with the loss (4-2) in a complete-game effort. She conceded five runs (four earned) on nine hits and one walk, while fanning four batters.

Bridgewater State jumped on the board first in game two, taking a 2-0 lead after junior catcher Brianna Strecker (Waterford, CT) launched a double down the left field line that plated a pair of runs.

The Bears followed with a monster fourth inning, scoring four runs to take a 6-0 lead. Senior second baseman Michaela Ferreira (Fall River, MA) drove a two-run double to the center field fence to spearhead the rally, while Shaw added a two-run single moments later to cap off the frame.

BSU added another in the fifth following a sacrifice fly from Ferreira to take a seven-run lead. However, the Anchorwomen got that run back in the bottom half of the inning after a sacrifice fly from Pokora scored freshman left fielder Taylor Nelson (Wareham, MA), making it, 7-1.

The run in the fifth proved to be the last gasp for Rhode Island College, as they were held scoreless through the final two innings. Meanwhile, junior pinch hitter Courtney Gregoire (Dartmouth, MA) blasted a solo home run to lead off the top of the seventh, capping off the evening for the Bears.

Junior starting pitcher Meghan Dunn (Colchester, CT) improved to 8-2 on the year following the complete game victory. She surrendered just one run on eight hits and one walk, while striking out one.  Johnson (3-4) took the complete game loss for RIC.

Johnson went 5-for-6 with an RBI and a stolen base in the twinbill to lead the Anchorwomen.  Pokora finished with two hits, two runs and two RBI, while Thoma added a pair of hits and two RBI to highlight the offense. Jandreau and Borden also recorded two hits on the day as well, while Jandreau added two stolen bases.

Shaw finished with two hits and three RBI to lead the way for the Bears as she now has driven in 30 runs over the first 20 games of the season.  Ferreira chipped in with a hit, three RBI, and two runs scored. McDermott and McCone each finished with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while senior first baseman Penny King (Hanover, MA) also contributed with a pair of singles.

Bridgewater's last win over RIC came on April 6 of 2006, an 11-2 victory in game two of a doubleheader in Providence.