PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Johnson & Wales University (R.I.) softball team scored multiple runs in every inning en-route to an 11-2 victory over visiting Wheaton College (Mass.) in the first game of a doubleheader this afternoon at Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex in Providence, R.I. The game was halted due to the NCAA's eight-run mercy rule.
The Lyons slip to 7-9 on the season, while the Wildcats improve to 6-9.
JWU scored twice in the bottom of the first, before Wheaton countered with a run in the top of the second to cut the deficit in half. The Wildcats added four runs in the bottom of the frame to increase their lead to 6-1. The Lyons scored a run in the third, but the JWU offense continued to produce with two runs in the bottom of the inning and three runs in the fourth to give the home team a nine-run difference.
First year designated player Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) and senior catcher Jill Ceddia (Hopkinton, Mass.) were both 1-3 with a run scored for Wheaton, while senior third base Bryanna Agan (Averill Park, N.Y.) reached base twice with a single and a hit batter. Sophomore first base Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.) contributed with a single in three at-bats. Senior right-hander Sofia Knopf (Norton, Mass.) suffered the loss to drop to 4-4 after giving up two runs on one hit and a pair of walks in one inning of work.
Senior shortstop Julia Huzi (Trumbull, Conn.) led the Wildcats with a pair of doubles as part of a 3-3 outing that produced three runs batted in and two runs scored. Every batter in the JWU nine drove in at least one run in the game. First year second base Amanda Madigan (Holbrook, N.Y.) was 3-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior starting pitcher Katie Scheid (Hightstown, N.J.) earned the victory to improve to 4-3 after yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk to go with five strikeouts.
The Wildcats scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. Junior right fielder Mackenzie Clee (Warminster, Pa.) worked a lead-off walk, stole second and went to third on an errant throw on the play. Huzi reached on a bunt single to plate Clee with the day's first run. JWU later loaded the bases and Huzi scampered home with the second run on a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of first year third base Jessica Forneiro (Kings Park, N.Y.).
The Lyons looked to rally in the top of the second when they loaded the bases with one out, but managed just one run to cut the margin to 2-1. Ceddia reached on an error, Agan singled to left and first year second base Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) drew a walk to fill the sacks for Wheaton. Junior left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice to knock home Ceddia with the visitors' first run.
The Wildcats scored four runs in the second to give them some breathing room with a 6-1 advantage. Huzi cracked an RBI double, before senior first base Hailey Erickson (Calimesa, Calif.) and sophomore catcher Mady Lyons (Prior Lake, Minn.) each collected run-scoring singles to key the frame.
Wheaton loaded the bases with just one out again in the third and again, Scheid limited the visitors to just one run. Barry reached on an infield error to open the inning and one out later Blankenheim-Brown and Ceddia both followed with singles to load the bases. Agan was hit by a pitch to force Barry home with the Lyons' second run. Scheid was able to escape without further damage for JWU after getting a called third strike and inducing a ground out.
The Wildcats' offense picked up where they left off, scoring two more runs to bump their cushion to 8-2. Sophomore left fielder Olivia Mason (Derry, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and went to third on a single through the left side by Madigan to put runners on the corners with one out. Clee followed with a sacrifice fly and Huzi belted an RBI double down the left field line to plate the home team's eighth run.
JWU tacked on three more runs in the fourth to give it enough runs to end the game early. Junior Caroline Amorelli (Winslow, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, before stealing second base. Senior designated player Sage Borkowski (Oxford, Conn.) came through with a two-out, run-scoring single to center field to plate Amorelli. Mason brought Borkowski around to score with a double down the left field line and scored herself on a single to right off the bat of Madigan to make it 11-2.
