MILTON, Mass. – The Curry College softball team split with conference opponent Western New England on Sunday afternoon. The Colonels took game one by a 5-4 win in eight innings The Golden Bears picked up a 2-0 in the nightcap. Curry now sits at 10-12 overall and 5-5 in the CCC. Western New England stands at 14-4 overall with a 6-2 mark in conference action.
GAME ONE
The Golden Bears struck first in game one when Katie Wood (Westport, Mass.) scored on a passed ball to make the score 1-0. Western New England added to their lead later in the frame, thanks to an RBI groundout to short by Paige Uliase (Meriden, Conn.), which scored Aimee Kistner (Taunton, Mass.) to lead 2-0.
The Colonels would respond in the top of the third, tallying three runs to grab their first lead of the afternoon. Mikayla Lambert (Blackstone, Mass.) got the frame started with a single to center which scored Mikayla Korona (Bellingham, Mass.). Kevi Oatway (East Hartford, Conn.) continued the scoring for Curry with single to center to send Lambert home and then Rachel Byrd (Hampstead, N.H.) pitched in a double to right to score Oatway to put the Colonels in front, 3-2.
The Golden Bears knotted the contest up in the top of the sixth. Kistner recorded a hit to center field that was deep enough to score Gabby Lavinio (Dalton, Mass.). The run tied the game at three.
The game would eventually head into extras with Western New England grabbing the early lead. Lavinio had a sacrifice fly to center that was good enough to score Tori Fisher (Poestenkill, N.Y.) to make the score, 4-3.
The Colonels would have a shot to tie the contest and send it further into extras or win it. Korona doubled to right to score Hanna Fleming (Clinton, Mass.) and then Oatway gave Curry the victory with an RBI single to center that score Marissa Bruno (Milford, Conn.) for the game-winning run.
Bruno and Korona finished game one a combined 6-for-9 at the dish with three runs scored and an RBI. Lambert and Oatway closed the contest with two hits each while four others registered hits for the Colonels. Kistner paced the visitors with a 3-for-3 day at the plate.
Rebecca Black (East Greenwich, R.I.) registered the victory in the circle. She tossed a complete game while giving up four runs on seven hits. The junior walked one and struck out one in the victory. Kistner was credited the loss, recording three and a third innings of work. She surrendered two runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk.
GAME TWO
The nightcap remained scoreless until the sixth when Wood reached on an error by the Curry third baseman, which allowed Jen Zazzarino (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) to score. Jen Luba (Plymouth, Conn.) added to the Western New England lead with an RBI groundout to short that scored Lavinio.
Lavinio led the Golden Bears with two hits in the nightcap. Two others recorded hits for the visitors. Byrd paced Curry with two hits. Bruno registered the lone other hit for the Colonels.
Samantha DiGiovanni (Shirley, N.Y.) picked up the win for Western New England, tossing a shutout. She only allowed four hits while striking out one and walking one. Lambert got the loss for the Colonels, giving up two runs on four hits. She struck out three and walked three in the defeat.
Curry will return to action on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader at Suffolk starting at 4:00 p.m. Western New England also play in non-league action on Tuesday, heading to Springfield for double dip beginning at 3:30 p.m.
