Softball Swept by JWU Wildcats

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Regis College could not overcome the offensive production from Johnson and Wales University as the Wildcats swept the Pride, 9-4 and 16-3, Monday evening in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) softball doubleheader at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletic Complex. 

GAME ONE: JOHNSON & WALES 9, REGIS 4

Regis jumped on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Bianca Burke (Cambridge, Mass.) led off with a walk and Lexi Nichols (Granby, Conn.) followed with a home run over the fence in center field. Mel Rees (Middleborough, Mass.) followed with a double to right field, advanced to third, and eventually scored on a Wildcat error.

Johnson and Wales answered in the bottom of the first inning as Caroline Amorelli hit a three-run home run over the fence in left field to tie the game. In the bottom of the second inning, Danielle Floyd led off with a solo home run, starting a six-run frame for the Wildcats capped by a two-run single from Macy Pagano.

Rees led off the top of the third inning with a solo home run to left-center field, but that would be the final run scored by either team in the game. The Pride left the bases loaded in the fifth inning without scoring any runs and loaded the bases again in the seventh inning on three straight singles by Avery Patles (Derry, N.H.), Grace Motto (Wareham, Mass.), and Mya Gaspie (Hooksett, N.H.), but a double play lineout helped the Wildcats close out the contest.

Besides going 2-for-4 at the plate, Rees came on in relief in the second inning and pitched 4 1/3 innings without allowing a run, giving up just three hits and one walk while striking out two batters. Sage Borkowski earned the win in relief for the Wildcats as she allowed just three hits and two walks in two innings.

GAME TWO: JOHNSON & WALES 16, REGIS 3

Johnson and Wales (10-10, 4-0 GNAC) scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of three Pride errors. The Wildcats would earn five more runs in the bottom of the second inning, capped by a two-run single from Gabby Bellamore.

In the top of the third inning, Nichols hit her second home run of the night, a solo shot to center field, to put Regis on the board, but Johnson and Wales responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning, starting with a two-run double by Hailey Erickson. The Wildcats loaded the bases in the fourth inning and eventually scored three runs.

Maddy Bradish (Hudson, N.H.) hit a one-out double to left field in the fifth inning and came home ahead of Nichols as she hit another home run, the second time in Nichols's collegiate career she has hit two home runs in one game. Rees followed with a triple down the right field line, but she induced a rundown situation off a walk drawn by Patles, who was thrown out attempting to advance to second base to end the game.

Katie Scheid picked up the victory for the Wildcats, allowing just one hit, three walks, and one run in four innings while striking out five batters.

Regis College (2-14, 0-4 GNAC) hosts Lesley University in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday, April 9, starting at 5 p.m.