NORTON, Mass. -- Sophomore Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) and junior Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) combined for five hits and three runs batted in to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to a 7-3 victory in game one of a doubleheader over visiting Bridgewater State University this afternoon at the Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.

The Lyons improve to 9-4 on the season, while the Bears fall to 2-13.

Oliveira was 2-3 with two runs batted in, a pair of runs scored and a stolen base, while Zito was 3-3 with a double, two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in game one for Wheaton. Junior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.) drove in two runs and was 1-2 and first year Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) cranked her first collegiate home run in a pinch-hitting role for the Lyons. Junior right-hander Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) earned the victory to improve to 5-1 after giving up three runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk to go with eight strikeouts in seven complete innings.

First year second base Kailey Collins-Fiore (LaGrange, N.Y.) paced Bridgewater State, going 2-2 with a run batted in, while junior center fielder Janet Jolly (Raynham, Mass.) doubled and scored a run. Sophomore left fielder Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) doubled and drew a walk and senior catcher Madison Dana (Lynn, Mass.) also doubled for the Bears. Sophomore starting pitcher McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) (1-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits and a pair of walks in addition to two strikeouts in five and a third innings of work.

Wheaton scored three times in the bottom of the first and fifth innings, before adding a single run in the sixth. Bridgewater State scored a run in the fifth and added two more in the sixth. 

Zito opened the bottom of the first with a single through the left side for the Lyons, stole second and later scored on a single down the right field line off the bat of Oliveira. Junior second base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) drew a walk before Oliveira's run scoring hit and went to third on the play to set up a sacrifice fly from Ceddia. Oliveira advanced to third on the play and scored herself on a sacrifice fly from sophomore center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) to give the home team a 3-0 margin.

The Bears got a run back in the top of the fifth when Dana clubbed a double down the left field line, before being lifted for junior pinch runner Madison Flamme (Bethel, Conn.) who later scored on a bunt single from Collins-Fiore to put Bridgewater State on the board.

Wheaton answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-1 advantage. Zito roped a run-scoring double to left center and Oliveira and Ceddia came through with RBI singles later in the inning. 

The Bears rallied for two runs in the top of the sixth with two hits and the benefit of a Lyon miscue to cut the deficit to 6-3. Jolly smacked a leadoff double to left field and later scored on a throwing error. Bridgewater State added another run on a fielder's choice.

The Lyons capped the scoring when Burt crushed a pitch over the left field fence for a solo homer in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-3.