PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Seniors Katelyn Barton (Andover, N.H.) and Tristan Keller (Plymouth, N.H.) each homered to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team over Johnson & Wales University (R.I.), 6-1, in game two of a twinbill to salvage a split today at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex in Providence, R.I. The Lyons improve to 12-10 on the season, while the Wildcats fall to 20-4.

Wheaton rapped out 13 hits, including seven for extra bases. Barton was 2-4 with a double, a run batted in and two runs scored, while Keller was 1-3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored for the Lyons. Sophomore left fielder Allison Weston (West Islip, N.Y.) collected three hits in four at-bats and scored a run and sophomore third base Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) was 2-4 with a double and a run batted in. Senior starting pitcher Emma Candelaria (Hampton Bays, N.Y) picked up the win to improve to 7-3 after giving up just one run on four hits and a walk to go with three strikeouts in four and a third innings pitched. Sophomore reliever Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) threw the final two and two-thirds innings and did not allow a hit or a walk, while striking out two to earn her second save of the season.

Senior Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) led Johnson & Wales with a home run in two at-bats, while first year center fielder Caroline Amorelli (Winslow, N.J.) was 1-3 with a double. Sophomore shortstop Julia Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) reached base twice with a single and a walk. First year starting pitcher Katie Scheid (Hightstown, N.J.) (4-2) was saddled with the loss for the Wildcats, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk to go with a strikeout in two-thirds of an inning of work.

Wheaton's offense got to work right away in the top of the first inning, scoring two runs on four hits in the frame. Weston opened the frame with a single to center before sophomore center fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) doubled to center to put the runners in scoring position with no outs. Oliveira later singled with one out to plate Weston with the game's first run for the Lyons. Wheaton added another run when Zito scored on the front end of a double steal attempt to make it 2-0.

Johnson & Wales' only run of the game came in the bottom of the inning on Pulek's sixth home run of the season coming with two outs to cut the lead to 2-1.

Barton opened the third with her first long ball of the season to increase the visitor's lead to 3-1. 

Wheaton added three more insurance runs in the seventh to take a 6-1 advantage. Barton opened another inning with an extra-base hit when she doubled and came around to score after sophomore Katie Peirce (Acushnet, Mass.) traded places with a double to right field. Keller capped the scoring with a two-run blast for her second homer of the year to give the Lyons a 6-1 lead.

Wheaton returns to the diamond on Friday, April 15 when it travels to Wellesley, Mass. for a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader with Wellesley College at 3:00 p.m., while JWU hosts Suffolk University on the same day at 4:00 p.m.