WESTON, Mass. – It was a fruitful and quick afternoon for the Regis Pride softball team who put up five runs in the fifth innings of both games of a double header to complete a pair of run rule wins, 8-0 and 9-1, over Southern Vermont in New England Collegiate Conference action Thursday at Regis Field. Regis improves to 9-7 with the sweep and 5-3 in the NECC with the Mountaineers dropping to 3-15 overall and 3-7 in league play.
Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) and Lisa Lusardi (Enfield, Conn.) registered the wins for Regis on the day, with Southern Vermont's Caroline Adams (Lakeville, Mass.) and Nicole Matthews (Pittstown, N.Y.) taking the losses.
Game 1
The opener saw a dominant performance in the circle from Cuozzo (6-2). She struck out a season-high nine batters and tossed a one-hitter while batting 2-3 with one run and three RBI.
Regis jumped on Southern Vermont early when Cuozzo (6-2) helped her own cause with a two-run double in the first inning scoring Alyssa McKinnon (Rowley, Mass.) and Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.). Cuozzo cruised through the Mountaineer order but Regis wouldn't add to their lead until tacking on a run in the fourth to make it a 3-0 game.
One inning later though the Pride put the game to bed, capitalizing on two infield errors to put five runs on the board and complete the run-rule win. Calogerro had two hits and two runs and Allie Petillo (West Sayville, N.Y.) added one hit, two runs and one RBI.
Adams (1-5) allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in the loss.
Game 2
The nightcap would follow a similar script as the Pride put up five runs in the fifth inning to seal another run-rule win. Alysa DiFruscia (Tewskbury, Mass.) doubled to help load the bases in the final inning with no outs then two walks, a hit batsman and five runs later and the game was over.
Amanda Navarro (Stoneham, Mass.) batted 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI single in the fifth and Taylor Polizonis (Crowmwell, Conn.) added one hit, one run and three RBI.
SVU struck first with a run in the top of the first when Kayla Emmi (Syracuse, N.Y.) was issued a base on balls by Lusani then later scored on a wild pitch. The Mountaineers had a chance to add to their lead one inning later but Jenna Casello made a diving catch in left field with two outs and the bases loaded to end the inning.
The Pride got on the board with four runs in the third to take a 4-1 lead. Michaela Nejaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) and Casello were both hit by pitches with the bases loaded and Polizonis delivered a two-run base hit for the big inning.
Lusardi (3-2) worked five complete allowing one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Matthews (2-5) gave up five earned runs in the loss while striking out four.
The Pride return to action on Saturday, April 16 hosting Bay Path for a conference doubleheader starting at 12:00 p.m. The Mountaineers retake the field Saturday as well, visiting the campus of Lasell for a doubleheader vs. Lesley starting at 2:00 p.m.