Softball Sweeps RIC in Non-Conference Twinbill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The visiting Bridgewater State University softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader with Rhode Island College on Tuesday at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex in Providence.

The Bears won the first game, 9-2, and completed the sweep with an 11-7 victory in 11 innings in the nightcap. Bridgewater improves to 5-7 with the two wins, while RIC falls to 4-4.

Game One

In the opener, the Bears took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when junior left fielder Jenny Heller (Taunton, Mass.) belted her first career home run and junior center fielder Kacie Carvalho (Fairhaven, Mass.) brought in another with an infield single. BSU tacked on one more run in the third on a Heller sacrifice fly.

Bridgewater State exploded for five runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run single by sophomore shortstop Samantha Mulcahy (Taunton, Mass.) and a bases clearing, three-run double off the bat of freshman right fielder Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.).

RIC would push two runs across in the home half of the sixth as freshman right fielder Erica Fluskey (Trumbull, Conn.) smacked an RBI double and senior first baseman Kelsey Wood (North Dighton, Mass.) contributed an RBI groundout.

Ruprecht capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh.

BSU freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Shaw (Lakeville, Mass.) picked up the win (4-1), allowing two runs on seven hits, while striking out two, in a complete game effort. RIC junior Briana Gough (West Warwick, R.I.) was tagged with the loss (2-2).

Ruprecht (1-for-4) led the way for the visitors, driving in four runs and scoring one. Junior designated player Mackenzie Holt (Gilroy, Calif) went 3-for-5 with a run, while Mulcahy was 2-for-5 with a run and two RBI. Carvalho (2-for-4, run, RBI) and junior third baseman Courtney Gouveia (Taunton, Mass.) also finished with multiple hits for the Bears. Gouveia had two hits in four at bats and scored two runs.

Game Two

In the nightcap, Bridgewater State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning as Gouveia (Taunton, Mass.) knocked in a pair with a single to right field.

RIC got on the board in the bottom of the third as Simmons plated one with an RBI double.

BSU increased its advantage to 4-1 on Holt's RBI groundout in the fourth. The Anchorwomen plated their second run in the fifth on a Simmons' RBI infield single.

In the sixth, the Bears picked up a pair of insurance runs on back-to-back RBI singles by sophomore first baseman Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.) and Heller.

RIC stormed back with a four-run sixth inning to tie the game, 6-6. Senior catcher Chelsea Schott (Meriden, Conn.) got the rally started with an RBI double. The Anchorwomen also scored a run on a Bear error, Fluskey picked up an RBI and junior left fielder Michaela DeAngelis (North Providence, R.I.) tied the game with a single up the middle. RIC loaded the bases with two down, but Shaw, who had come on earlier in the frame, got a big strikeout to keep the game deadlocked.

The score remained tied until the top of the tenth when BSU put runners on second and third with no outs. A Grindle fielder's choice grounder allowed Mulcahy to score the go-ahead run.

With two down in the bottom of the tenth, Matias brought in the tying run with an RBI double down the left field line.

BSU broke the game open with four runs in the 11th inning. Mulcahy provided the big hit with a two-run triple which gave the Bears a 9-7 lead. Mulcahy would come around to score on Ruprecht's RBI fielder's choice ground, while Heller capped off the scoring with an RBI single to help secure the marathon win.

Shaw picked up her second win (5-1) on the day. She allowed just one run in 5 1/3 innings of relief and struck out five. RIC junior Erica Fleming (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) took the loss (2-2) in a complete game effort.

Mulcahy (2-for-5, BB), Grindle (3-for-6, BB), Heller (3-for-6, BB), Gouveia (2-for-5) and Carvalho (2-for-5) all finished with multiple hits for the Bears in game two.

Notes: Mulcahy extended her hitting streak to eight games, while Carvalho has hit safely in her last seven games....In upcoming action, the Bears open MASCAC play on Friday afternoon at home against Salem State University with game one of the twinbill getting underway at 2:00 PM.