NEWPORT, R.I. – First year designated player Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) knocked in a pair of runs and senior starting pitcher Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) allowed just one run in seven innings to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team over host Salve Regina University, 5-1, this afternoon in game one of a New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference doubleheader at Toppa Field in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons improve to 6-8 overall and 1-0 following the NEWMAC opener, while the Seahawks fall to 3-10 and 0-1.
Wheaton scored a single run in the second and two more in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Salve Regina notched its only run in the bottom of the fourth, before the Lyons added two insurance runs in the sixth to take a four-run lead.
Barry led Wheaton's offense with a 2-4 effort to go with a stolen base, while junior right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) was 2-3 with a pair of runs scored and a stolen base. Knopf improved to 4-3 after giving up seven hits and three walks to go with three strikeouts.
Junior catcher Morganti Bello (Corte Madera, Calif.) paced the Seahawks' offense, going 1-3 with a double, a run scored and a run batted in and junior third base Kylie Lanteri (Berlin, Conn.) was 1-3 with a walk and a stolen base. Sophomore starting pitcher Caroline Peterson (Halifax, Mass.) allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and seven walks in addition to striking out two batters.
The Lyons got on the board with a run in the top of the second to take a 1-0 edge in the contest. Wheaton loaded the bases with one out following consecutive singles from senior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.), senior third base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) and Rohon. Ceddia was pushed across with the game's first run on a fielder's choice from first year second base Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.).
The Lyons used aggressive base running to add a pair of runs in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead. Agan drew a lead-off walk and Rohon reached on an error, before Agan scored as Rohon stole second base. Rohon later scored after reaching and getting into a rundown that allowed Rohon to score the third run.
Salve Regina cracked the scoring column in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-1. The Seahawks loaded the bases with one out after junior shortstop Olivia Saccoccio (Coventry, R.I.), sophomore left fielder Hailey Basso (Carmel, N.Y.) and junior second base Sam Franceschi (East Haven, Conn.) all singled. Bello hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score first year pinch-runner Chloe Nittoly (Milford, Conn.) with Salve Regina's first run.
Wheaton tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth to give the Lyons a four-run lead. Rohon and junior left fielder Jillian Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) each singled to put runners on first and second to set up a run-scoring single from Barry to plate Rohon and give Wheaton a 4-1 margin. The Lyons added the final run of the game when Zito scored from third, while Barry was stealing second base.
Knopf retired the final four batters of the game to secure the win for Wheaton.
