BRISTOL, R.I. – The Curry College Softball team earned a split with Roger Williams Sunday afternoon in a Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader, dropping the opener 4-0 before rebounding 12-2 in the nightcap.

The first game started off with a push bunt down to third by Megan Flaherty (Medway, Mass.). She was able to beat out the throw to first and was eventually moved over to second with two outs. She was eventually be stranded at second after Meghan Maliga (Suffield, Conn.) was able to induce a pop-out to first to end the inning.

The Hawks' inning started somewhat similar with Taylor Messier (Cranston, R.I.) dragging a bunt single to Curry's Taylor Ahearn (Salem, Mass.). However on the next at-bat, Ahearn was able to scoop out a low ball on a sac bunt attempt and double up Messier at first. She closed out the inning on the next batter with a jumping snag on a grounder to prevent a base hit up the middle.

Kelly Duggan (Norwood, Mass.) reached in the second on a one-out single to left field, but would not advance after a heads-up catch in foul territory by Mikaela Grosso (West Warwick, R.I.) and a strikeout by Maliga.

The Hawks looked poised to bring the first run of the game aboard in the bottom of the second, with Caroline Atkinson (Milford, Mass.) knocking a one-out double to left center. Yet a nice backhanded stop at short by Flaherty and a good scoop on the throw by Heather Carrier (Scarborough, Maine) helped get the Colonels out of the jam.

Flaherty just missed her first home run of the year in the top of the third, launching a deep fly ball to left center just a couple of feet from clearing the fence. After a line out to short, Flaherty moved over to third after a pitch in the dirt but would eventually stay there as a flyout to left ended the potential Colonel rally.

Maliga tried to help out her cause in the bottom of the third, ripping a deep lead-off double to left. With runners at second and third, Maliga ultimately scored on a groundball to third as the throw home was too high for the catcher. The Colonels were able to escape the inning giving up only one run. On the next at-bat, the Hawks grounded out to third, followed by Carrier throwing out Messier at home trying to score from third.

The fourth inning saw both teams lead off the frame with base hits, with Curry a single from Marissa Bruno (Milford, Conn.) and a double from Delaney Burns (Hudson, N.H.) for RWU. However, neither team was able get their runner around as both were left stranded.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Hawks were able to add one more run. With runners at second and third with one out, Chelsea Boulrisse (Bourne, Mass.) sent a fly ball to left field that Curry outfielder Mikayla Korona had trouble getting a good read on. Yet she was able to recover in time to make a clutch extended-arm back-hand catch. As a result, it was just be a sacrifice fly instead of a potential two-run single.

The Colonels had their best opportunity to score in the sixth, getting the first two runners on with no outs and loading the bases with two outs. Curry was aided by a couple of defensive miscues by RWU to get their runners on. Yet the Hawks managed to escape unscathed, as Maliga got the Colonels to foul out behind the plate with a full count.

The sixth inning saw the Hawks' offense start to motor. Burns and Atkinson led off the frame with back-to-back singles and would later score on a sac fly from Alana Peoples (Scarborough, Maine) and an RBI double from Maliga. Maliga would then keep the Colonels off the board in the top of the seventh for the shutout.

Maliga struck out three and allowed six hits in her outing, in addition to going 3-for-3 at the plate. Messier also went 3-for-3, while Burns and Atkinson each finished 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Ahearn took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) in six innings, fanning six. Flaherty was 2-for-3 at the plate while Bruno, Duggan, and Ahearn all went 1-for-3.

The second game began with both teams going three up and three down in the first inning. The second inning saw Curry get its first base runners of the game, with Duggan walking and Kaitlyn Madeiros (East Bridgewater, Mass.) getting a base hit just inside the left field line, but the Hawks kept the two from scoring.

RWU threatened to score in the bottom of the second. After a fly-out to right, the Hawks were able to load the bases via an error, a single, and a hit-by-pitch. Curry pitcher Jennifer Lundstrom avoided giving up a run, striking out her counterpart Tori Milano (Eastchester, N.Y.) and getting pinch hitter Mittel to line out on a hard-hit ball to short.

Curry broke through in the top of the third, taking advantage of a two-out error to extend the inning. Amy Nolan (Norfolk, Mass.), who reached on the error, eventually came in on an RBI single by LaRosa.

The bottom of the third looked similar to the previous inning, with RWU loading the bases with one out. Atkinson looked poised to bring at least two runners in, hitting a line drive up the middle, but Lundstrom was able to snag the liner to hold the Hawks on base. The Hawks were then charged a controversial third out on appeal on the runner at first base due to the look-back rule.

In the fourth, Curry got three of its first four batters on base, with Flaherty bringing home pinch runner Mikayla Korona (Bellingham, Mass.) with an RBI single to right to give the Colonels a two-run lead. Ariel LaRosa (Saugus, Mass.) later notched the big hit for Curry, clearing the bases with a shot to right center and making her way to third.

The Hawks finally made their way on the board in the bottom of the fourth with Mittel knocking in Maliga with a two-out RBI single up the middle. Veronica Alicea (Trumbull, Conn.) later worked a full count and drew a bases-loaded walk to pull RWU within three. RWU almost scored one more run on the next at-bat, with Burns hittting one up the middle which Lundstrom was able to get a glove on to slow it down. Flaherty was able to charge in and make the scoop and throw on a bang-bang play.

In the top of the seventh an error at third and a single up the middle set the stage for Duggan to come through with an RBI single to left. Madeiros followed with two-run base knock of her own to give Curry a six-run lead. The Colonels continued to tack on the runs in the frame with an RBI double from Carrier and a two-run double from Flaherty. Nolan capped off the scoring with an RBI single to give Curry a ten-run lead. The Colonels would then set down the Hawks in order in the bottom half of the inning to grab the win.

Lundstrom gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks in the win with three strikeouts. All nine starters registered at least one hit, including LaRosa, who finished finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run. Madeiros was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, while Flaherty was 2-for-5 with three RBI and two runs.

Milano took the loss in a shortened outing, giving up one unearned run in 2.2. innings while Maliga was tagged for nine runs (four earned) in 3.2 innings of relief. Cayla McCarthy (Shelburne, Vt.) pitched the final 0.2 innings, allowing two runs. Messier was 2-for3 while Maliga went 2-for-4 with a run.

Roger Williams (14-10, 7-2 CCC) will host Wheaton on Tuesday while Curry (14-8, 5-1 CCC) hosts Suffolk on Wednesday. (Recap courtesy of RWU Sports Information)