BRISTOL, R.I. – Sophomore shortstop Taylor Barry (Hadley, Mass.) had two hits and knocked in a pair of runs to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) softball team to a 4-2 game one win over host Roger Williams University this afternoon at Paolino Field in Bristol, R.I.
The Lyons improve to 13-2 on the season, while the Hawks dip to 7-6.
Wheaton scored twice in the first and added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings to take a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, before Roger Williams scored twice to make it 4-2.
Barry also walked in the game for the Lyons. Junior first base Peyton Blankenheim-Brown (Rio Linda, Calif.) doubled and tripled in four at-bats and scored a pair of runs, while junior catcher Riley Dolan (Coram, N.Y.) was 1-3 with an RBI and a walk. Sophomore starting pitcher Sofia De La Rosa (Middle Village, N.Y.) earned the win to improve to 7-1 after giving up two runs on seven hits and a pair of walks to go with six strikeouts in seven innings pitched.
Sophomore second base Hailey Williams (Vernon, Conn.) led the Hawks at the plate, going 2-4 with a home run, two runs batted in and a run scored. Junior catcher Ashley Klingberg (Yorkville, Ill.) was 3-3 with a run scored and a stolen base out of the nine-hole, while sophomore third base Christina Denovellis (Rocky Hill, Conn.) contributed with two hits in three at-bats for the home team. Junior starting pitcher Raegen Germano (Old Tappan, N.J.) suffered the loss to drop to 2-3 after allowing four runs on six hits and seven walks in addition to striking out eight in seven full innings.
Wheaton loaded the bases with no outs to open the first inning behind a pair of walks from senior left fielder Juliette Zito (Woodbridge, Conn.) and sophomore designated player Ella Molinari (Grafton, Mass.) sandwiched around a single from senior center fielder Grace DiBacco (Selkirk, N.Y.). Germano looked to get out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts, but Barry drew a walk to force in the first run of the day and junior second base Maggie Caron (Boxford, Mass.) followed suit with an RBI base on balls to give the Lyons a 2-0 lead.
Wheaton tacked on a run in the fifth when Blankenheim-Brown ripped a two-out double down the line and Barry singled up the middle to bring her around to score the third run of the game. The Lyons continued their two-out magic with another run in the seventh for a four-run cushion. Blankenheim-Brown stepped in with two outs again and ignited the rally with a triple to right center, before Dolan laced a single through the right side to drive in Blankenheim-Brown with Wheaton's final run.
Roger Williams cut the deficit in half with two swings of the bat in the bottom of the seventh. Klingberg punched a single into left field, before Williams homered over the left field fence to pull the Hawks within 4-2, but it was as close as they would get.
