BRISTOL, R.I. – A comeback effort by the Roger Williams University Softball team fell just short Saturday afternoon, as Curry College held off the Hawks 4-3 in eight innings. The second game was suspended after the first inning tied 0-0 due to rain and will be replayed in its entirety at a future date to be announced. [Box Score]
The Colonels were able to get on the scoreboard in their first at-bat. Curry manufactured its first run with Megan Flaherty (Medway, Mass.) leading off the game with a walk then moving to second via a sacrifice by Taryn Vigeant (Terryville, Conn.). Mikaela Carney (N. Reading, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to score Flaherty. Carney would later score in the inning to put the Colonels on top 2-0.
In the following inning, Flaherty came through with another run for Curry, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly by Carney.
Offensively, the Hawks were unable to get anything going in the early part of the game. Sarah Grill (Watervliet, N.Y.) led off the Hawks with a double to center, but would eventually end up stranded at third. Kaitlyn Costa (Cranston, R.I.) managed a one-out single in the second but never advanced past third.
It wouldn’t be until the Hawks’ final at-bat before the offense came to life. With RWU down to its last out, Lauren Tierney (Middleboro, Mass.) singled to left followed by a walk to Natasha Stone (Harrison, N.Y.). Grill would then come through with an RBI triple to make it a 3-2 game. Erica Castro (Medford, N.Y.) would then tie the game at three with an RBI single and send it into extra innings.
In the eighth, Gabrielle Dube (Manchester, Conn.) put the Colonels back on top when she scored on an RBI triple by Chelsey Munsey (Leominster, Mass.). Trailing 4-3, the Hawks almost came back, with Hannah Pirez reaching third, but Amanda Peters (East Bridgewater, Mass.) snagged a line drive off the bat of Jaclyn Doolin (Miller Place, N.Y.) that was headed down the right field line. Janelle Mayo (Worcester, Mass.) would then induce a pop-up to second to get the win.
Mayo pitched all eight innings for Curry in the win, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts. Carney finished 1-for-3 with a run and two RBI, while Heather Carrier (Scarborough, Maine) was 2-for-4.
Stacy Broughton (Newtown, Mass.) took the loss, pitching seven innings of relief for Doolin, who gave up two runs (one earned) in one inning. Broughton allowed two unearned runs on four hits for RWU. Castro went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Grill was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
Roger Williams’ (12-20, 10-7 TCCC) noon game on Sunday vs. the University of New England has been postponed due to impending rain. Curry (15-18, 10-9 TCCC) is scheduled to host the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. (Game recap courtesy of RWU Sports Information)
