NEWPORT, R.I. – The Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning to come away with a 10-8 victory and complete a doubleheader sweep over host Salve Regina University in New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference action at Toppa Field in Newport, R.I.
The Lyons win their third straight game to improve to 7-8 overall and 2-0 in league play, while the Seahawks fall to 3-11 and 0-2.
Wheaton held a 7-1 lead after three and a half innings of play, before Salve Regina scored six unanswered runs with two in the fourth, two in the fifth and a pair in the sixth inning to pull even at 7-7. The Lyons scored three times in their half of the eighth and held the Seahawks to one run in the bottom of the eighth to complete the sweep.
The teams combined for 27 hits, including 14 from Wheaton.
Junior center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) was 2-5 with a home run and two runs batted in for the Lyons, while junior left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) and first year designated player Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) were both 3-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Junior right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) contributed with a 2-4 effort that included a run batted in and a pair of runs scored. Sophomore relief pitcher Ashlyn Burt (Olathe, Kan.) was credited with the victory to earn her first collegiate win after hurling two and a third innings of relief, allowing one unearned run on two hits and a pair of walks to go with a strikeout.
Sophomore left fielder Hailey Basso (Carmel, N.Y.) led Salve Regina at the plate, going 2-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored, while senior Maddie Capetta (Raritan, N.J.) was 2-4 with a double, a run batted in and a run scored. Junior third base Kylie Lanteri (Berlin, Conn.) chipped in with a 2-4 effort that saw her drive in a run and score twice. Junior reliever Alex Kelly (East Meadow, N.Y.) took the loss for the Seahawks, yielding four runs (three earned) on six hits to go with four strikeouts.
Wheaton scored the deciding runs in the top of the eighth inning with two outs. Zito singled up the middle to score Rohon with the go-ahead run to give the Lyons an 8-7 edge. Barry followed with a single of her own, before DiBacco ripped a single up the middle to plate Zito with the game's eventual winning run. Barry later scored when senior third base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) hit a shot up the middle that the pitcher couldn't handle, allowing the 10th run to score for Wheaton.
Junior shortstop Olivia Saccoccio (Coventry, R.I.) hit a sacrifice fly to the right side to score junior first base Emily Lane (Tinton Falls, N.J.) to pull the home team within 10-8, but it was the final run of the day to ensure the victory for the Lyons.
Wheaton scored six straight runs to open the game, including two in the top of the first. Zito ripped a leadoff single to center field, before Barry brought her around to score with an RBI double. Barry later stole third base and was knocked in on a run-scoring single to left field off the bat of sophomore first base Lily Platt (Hallowell, Maine) to make it 2-0.
Wheaton wasted no time in the second frame either, getting production from its top two hitters in the inning. Rohon and first year second base Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) played the parts of Zito and Barry with Rohon lacing a single to center to open the inning and Molinari launching a double to left to score Rohon with the Lyons' third run.
Wheaton doubled its margin with three more runs in the third to take a 6-0 cushion using the same formula to spark the rally. Senior shortstop Lindsey Oliveira (Westport, Mass.) laced a single to center to open the inning and Agan whacked a double to center to bring Oliveira around to score. Two outs later, Rohon served a single to left to bring home Agan, before a Zito double knocked in Rohon with the sixth run of game two for the visitors.
Salve Regina broke into the scoring column with a run in the bottom of the frame with the benefit of a pair of extra-base knocks. Basso opened the frame with a double, before Lane traded places with her on a two-out double to cut the deficit to 6-1 for the Seahawks.
The Lyons got the run back immediately in the top of the fourth thanks to a lead-off solo homer from DiBacco to restore the six-run advantage at 7-1. Salve Regina countered with a pair of runs to cut the margin to 7-3 and to start its comeback. Lanteri, Capetta and Saccoccio all singled to load the bases with no outs for the home team. Basso came through with a one-out two-run single to make it a four-run game for the Seahawks.
Wheaton was set down in order for the first time in the game in the fifth, while Salve Regina's bats produced two more runs to pull the Seahawks within 7-5. Lane led off the frame by getting hit by a pitch, stole second and then third, before scoring on a Lanteri single to right field. Lanteri later scored after swiping second base and coming around on an infield single to shortstop off the bat of Kelly.
Salve Regina came all the way back after scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to knot the contest at 7-7. Senior right fielder Christina Braid (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) came through with an RBI single to third base, stole second and then raced home on a double to left off the bat of Capetta.
The Lyons return to action on Friday, April 5 when they host Smith College for a NEWMAC twinbill at the Clark Softball Field at 3:00 p.m., while the Seahawks travel to Bristol, R.I. on April 3 to take on Roger Williams University at 3:30 p.m.
