NORTON, Mass. -- The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team was defeated by visiting Johnson & Wales University (R.I.), 4-0, this afternoon at the Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.

The Lyons dip to 14-8 on the season, while the Wildcats win their sixth straight and 13 of their last 14 to improve to 20-7.

Johnson & Wales scored a run in the third and two more in the fourth, before tacking on game two's final run in the sixth for a 4-0 lead.

Sophomore center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) was 1-3 for the Lyons and junior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) and first year pitcher Amber Arcand (Millville, Mass.) each reached base with a walk. Arcand was saddled with the loss to fall to 6-3 after giving up four runs on six hits and a walk to go with a pair of strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings.

First year Mady Lyons (Prior Lake, Minn.) was 2-3 with two runs batted in and a run scored, while sophomore center fielder Caroline Amorelli (Winslow, N.J.) was 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored for JWU. Graduate student third base Jill Pulek (Cheshire, Conn.) added to her day with two doubles in three at-bats and scored a run. Graduate student starting pitcher Livia Feole (Cranston, R.I.) was absolutely dominant for the Wildcats, surrendering just one hit and two walks in seven complete innings and allowed just one baserunner past second base, while improving to 4-2 on the season. 

Johnson & Wales cracked the scoring column in the top of the third without the benefit of a hit. First year Jadyn Torres (El Paso, Texas) opened the frame with a base on balls, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, proceeded to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0.

JWU scored two quick runs in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Amorelli singled through the left side and sauntered home ahead of Lyons' sixth home run of the season. The Wildcats tacked on their final run in the sixth for a four-run margin. Pulek opened the inning with a double to center, went to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly to center off the bat of Amorelli.

Wheaton's only threat to score came in the bottom of the fifth when DiBacco stroked a leadoff single to center, went to second on a sacrifice fly and advanced to third on a ground out, only to be stranded there.

Johnson & Wales returns to action tomorrow when it hosts Roger Williams University at 4:00 p.m., while the Lyons host New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference rival Wellesley College on Friday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m.