Softball Swept by Wheaton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- The Wheaton College softball team swept a pair of non-conference games from Bridgewater State University by scores of 5-2 and 10-3 on Sunday afternoon at Alumni Park to extend its winning streak to 13 games.

WHEATON 5, BRIDGEWATER STATE 2

Senior Allison Baker (Orange, Conn.) remained undefeated in the circle (8-0) for the Lyons dispersing four hits over seven innings while allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out five batters.

Bridgewater State senior Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) shouldered the loss in six-plus innings of work.  After hitting the first batter of the game, White (5-1) gave up just a hit and walk over the first six innings until running into trouble in the seventh.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Wheaton sophomore Marissa Timoteo (Jupiter, Fla.) jump started the offense with a leadoff single through the left side. Freshman Morgan Walsh (Norwell, Mass.) followed with an RBI triple to right field scoring pinch runner Rebecca Seifert (Franklin, Mass.) to even the score at 2-2.

Freshman Mary DeMoura (Boston, Mass.), who ran for Walsh, scored the eventual game-winning run on an errant throw on a failed pickoff attempt.  Sophomore Madeline Hatch (Acton, Mass.) and classmate Emma Hart (Lincoln, R.I.) added RBI singles to cap the four run frame.

In the bottom of the seventh, Baker use a pair of groundouts and a pop up to close the door on her eighth win of the season for a quick 1-2-3 inning.

Bridgewater had taken a 2-1 lead on an RBI double by junior Jessica Laudati (Berkley, Mass.) in the first inning and a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior Jocelyn Bettencourt (Plymouth, Mass.) in the fifth.

WHEATON 10, BRIDGEWATER STATE 3

Sophomore Jillian Rocha (Rehoboth, Mass.) picked up the victory in relief of junior Noelle Christmas (Plymouth, Mass.) tossing two scoreless innings alongside one strikeout. Christmas went three frames, allowed six hits, three runs (all earned), and four strikeouts. Freshman Danielle Cimino (Cumberland, Maine) fanned three in two scoreless innings.

Bears' freshman Kelly McCarthy (Burlington, Mass.) took the loss going two innings.  McCarthy (0-3) yielded five runs (four earned) on five hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Classmate Kathleen Bailey (Bayport, N.Y.) was effective in relief hurling two shutout frames.

The Lyons held a 5-0 lead before Bridgewater State answered with three runs in the bottom of the third as sophomore Karissa Pagan (Brockton, Mass.) and freshman Jennifer Galavotti (Marion, Mass.) roped back-to-back RBI doubles to cut the deficit to 5-2. Freshman Tara McCann (Fall River, Mass.) followed with a run-producing single through the left side, but Christmas ended the rally with a strikeout for the final out.

Wheaton answered with five runs on five hits in the top of the fourth to put the game out of reach. Timoteo, Walsh and senior Ashley Brillon (Attleboro, Mass.) and sophomore Kelly Welch (Wood Dale, Ill.) all collected RBIs for the Lyons. Walsh highlighted the inning with a two-run single up the middle, while Welch connected for her second double of the season.

Bridgewater (6-6) visits Babson College on Wednesday at three for a pair of games with the Beavers.  Wheaton (15-1) hosts Rhode Island College on Tuesday, March 25 for a doubleheader with game one scheduled at 3:30 p.m.