WESTON, Mass. - The Regis (Mass.) softball team claimed a pair of victories on Tuesday night over Wheelock College in New England Collegiate Conference action at Regis Field. The Pride took game one 10-0 in five innings, before winning 11-3 in game two, also in five innings.
With the sweep, the Pride improves to 7-7 on the season, including 5-1 in NECC play. The losses drop the Wildcats to 1-17 (1-7 NECC).
The Pride got the ball rolling in game one with a seven-run second inning, with all seven runs crossing the plate with two outs in the frame. Sophomore Kelsey Grimard (Pelham, N.H.) and junior Alexa Nejaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) delivered the two biggest hits of the inning, each driving in a pair on back-to-back hits to swing the game wide open.
A two-run double from senior Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) highlighted a three-run fourth inning for the Pride to run their advantage to double figures and propelling the team to the win. Defending NECC Pitcher of the Week Madi McLellan (Fremont, N.H.) had more than enough run support, as the rookie was dealing. McLellan allowed just three hits and struck out five over five innings pitched to claim her fourth victory of the season. Senior Maggie Doyle (Kingston, Mass.) got the loss for Wheelock in the circle.
The Wildcats came out swinging in game two, jumping out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. Dominique DelBene (Peabody, Mass.), Shannon Creedon (Woodstock, Conn.) and Katie Walsh (East Islip, N.Y.) all had RBIs in the inning to lift the Wildcats to an early 3-0 edge.
The Pride came right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring three unearned runs with two outs to tie the game at three. In the bottom of the second, freshman Ellery Rasmussen (Kingston, N.H.) put the Pride ahead for good when she drove in a pair on a two-out single through the left side of the infield, giving the Pride a 5-3 lead.
The Pride scored in every inning, and needed three in the bottom of the fifth to secure the mercy rule victory. Caloggero drove in a run with a bases loaded walk for the first run, before sophomore Allie Petillo singled up the middle to drive in one more to make the score 10-3. The Pride clinched the victory when senior Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the second consecutive inning for the walk-off win.
McLellan again was credited with the win, allowing three hits and striking out four in four shut out innings in relief. The loss went to Wheelock's Hanna Gootee (Hampton, N.H.), who falls to 1-8 on the season.
The Pride will return to action on Thursday night when they make the trip up to Southern Vermont College for a conference showdown against the Mountaineers. Wheelock will be off until Saturday, when they host Elms in NECC action.
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