NORTON, Mass. — Sophomore shortstop
Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) homered and knocked in three runs and junior starting pitcher
Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.) gave up just one run on four hits to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to a 6-4 win in the nightcap of a twinbill with visiting Rhode Island College this afternoon at Clark Softball Field on the Wheaton campus in Norton, Mass.
The Lyons win their eighth straight game to match their longest success streak since 2019 and improve to 12-2 on the season. The Anchorwomen fall to 8-6.
Wheaton rapped out 10 hits and scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. Rhode Island College got a run back in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit in half at 2-1, before the Lyons scored a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take a 6-1 advantage. The Anchorwomen rallied for three runs in the seventh to make it a two-run game, but it was as close as they would get.
Molinari reached base four times in the second game, going 2-2 with a pair of walks and scored a run for Wheaton. Blankenheim-Brown improves to 4-1 after yielding just one walk and fanning two batters over seven complete innings. Senior center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.) was 2-4 with a run batted in, a pair of runs scored and a stolen base, while sophomore second base Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) was 2-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Senior right fielder Jillian Rohon (Southington, Conn.) contributed with a 2-3 effort with a run scored.
Junior center fielder Sophia Crudale (Cranston, R.I.) drove in a pair of runs and was 1-2 with a walk and a stolen base to pace Rhode Island College, while sophomore designated player Sydney Duclos (North Providence, R.I.) was 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior shortstop Amanda Conti (Lincoln, R.I.) also knocked in a run and was 1-3. Sophomore righty starter Ashleigh von der Linden (Stratham, N.H.) suffered the loss to dip to 4-2 after giving up six runs on 10 hits and four walks to go with five strikeouts in five and two-thirds innings of work.
The Lyons took advantage of some wildness from the RIC pitcher and got on the board with a run in the second inning for a 1-0 edge. Barry smacked a double to center and scored on consecutive wild pitches. Wheaton added another run in the bottom of the third when Molinari took advantage of the wind blowing out to right field and cranked an opposite field long ball over the right field fence for her first collegiate home run and a 2-0 Lyon lead.
The Anchorwomen pulled within 2-1 with a run in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Melanie Earley (Lumberton, N.J.) opened the frame with a single to center field, before moving to second on a passed ball and to third on a wild pitch. Duclos delivered a single to left to plate Earley with Rhode Island College's first run.
The Lyons got the run back in the bottom of the fifth to restore the two-run margin. DiBacco reached on an infield single and Molinari drew a walk, before both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. First year designated player Madi Miller (Middle Village, N.Y.) hit a sacrifice fly to left with DiBacco racing home on the play to make it 3-1.
Wheaton scored three times in the sixth with what proved to be very important insurance runs. Rohon singled on a ball that took a wicked hop in front of the shortstop, before senior left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) reached on a two-out single to left. DiBacco increased the Lyons' lead to 4-1 with a single to center to bring Rohon around to score and moved up to second on the throw to put both runners in scoring position. Molinari met the moment again, scorching a single through the right side to drive in both runners and give Wheaton a 6-1 cushion.
Rhode Island College rallied for three runs in the seventh to close within 6-4. Sophomore pinch hitter Emma Wood (Holliston, Mass.) singled to the gap in right center and first year Jillian Guilfoyle (Derby, Conn.) reached on a fielder's choice, before a pinch-single off the bat of sophomore Olivia Brett (Sewell, N.J.) loaded the bases with one out. Conti drove a sacrifice fly to right to plate Duclos with RIC's second run of the game. Crudale capped the day's scoring with a two-run single to center field.
The Lyons return to action on Tuesday, March 25 when they head to Bristol, R.I. to take on Roger Williams University for a twinbill at 2:30 p.m., while the Anchorwomen host Husson University in doubleheader action tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.
