PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was held to just one hit in a 2-0 loss to host Johnson & Wales University this afternoon in game one of a doubleheader at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex in Providence, R.I. The Lyons dip to 11-10, while the Wildcats have won six of their last seven to improve to 20-3. 

First year center fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) led the Wheaton offense going 1-2 with a walk. Senior starting pitcher Sarah Pritchard (Malta, N.Y.) was the tough-luck losing pitcher giving up two runs on nine hits and no walks, while striking out one to fall to 3-4 on the season.

The first three hitters in Johnson & Wales' lineup all had multiple hits and combined for seven hits on the day. Junior third base Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) led the Wildcats going 3-3 with a run batted in, while senior second base Kaelani Gamble (Vancouver, Wash.) hit a home run in three at-bats. First year starting pitcher Mackenzie Clee (Warminster, Pa.) was 2-3 with a double and a run scored and sophomore shortstop Julia Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) finished 2-3. Clee faced just three batters over the minimum and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning with one out. She gave up one hit and one walk to go with three strikeouts in seven complete innings to improve to a perfect 5-0 on the season.

Johnson & Wales scored all the runs it would need with a single run in the third and one in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead after four innings of play.

Clee reached on a two-out infield single to keep the third inning alive for the Wildcats before Huzi singled to center to put Clee in scoring position on second base. Pulek singled to the pitcher and Clee was able to score on the play to put Johnson & Wales on the board at 1-0. 

The Wildcats' second run came with a lot more thunder as Gamble led off the fourth with a solo home run to give the home team a two-run lead. 

Zito reached on an infield single to shortstop with one out in the top of the sixth to record the Lyons first hit of the day.

Wheaton's best chance to score came in the top of the first when first year right fielder Emme Conley (Riverside, R.I.) reached on a fielder's choice and went to second when senior shortstop Katelyn Barton (Andover, N.H.) reached on an error with one out. Clee retired the next two batters, including a strikeout to end the threat.