MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Regis College softball team earned their first victory of the season after beating non-conference opponent Rosemont College 8-0 in five innings on Tuesday morning. The win, was the Pride's first on their spring break trip and improved their record to 1-2. With the loss, the Ravens fall to 0-2 on the year.
Junior pitcher Katie Cuozzo (Lynn, Mass.) pitched five innings of shutout ball, allowing two hits while striking out eight as her effort resulted in her first win of the season. Her counterpart, Maggie Miller (Doylestown, Pa.) was less fortunate as she was tagged for eight runs - six earned on seven hits while walking four and striking out two during four innings.
The Pride bats woke up during the second inning when the team scored five runs on four hits. Junior Alyssa McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.) started off the second frame by ripping a single to right field. Cuozzo followed up her teammate by reaching base via a walk, Alexa NeJaime (Sandisfield, Mass.) reached base on a fielder's choice as McKinnon was thrown out at third by eagles shortstop Taylor Mohr (Elizabethtown, Pa.). The next batter, Rachel Tortora (Malden, Mass.), had a chance to drive in some runs after a Miller wild pitch advanced Cuozzo and NeJaime into scoring position. Tortora kept her patient approach at the plate and stroked a single to right center field that drove in both runs and gave the Pride the early 2-0 lead.
The Crimson and Gold loaded up the bases after Rachel DesRochers (Westford, Mass.) and Kelsey Heath (Lowell, Mass.) both deposited singles through the left side of the field, both hits ended up advancing Tortora to third base. Jenna Casello (Westborough, Mass.) stepped into the batter's box looking to do damage and drive in some runs, but she stayed patient at the plate and reached first base via a walk which forced a run home. Allison Caloggero (Medford, Mass.) followed up by also receiving a free pass which allowed another run to score. Mckinnon stepped back up to the plate for her second at bat of the frame and also reached base due to a walk which drove home the fifth and final run of the inning.
When Regis came up to bat during the bottom of the third, they had a 5-0 lead over the Ravens. The team was looking to tack on more runs and was successful during the third frame. Alexa NeJaime reached first base when Taylor Mohr booted a ground ball. The next batter was Rachel Tortora who sacrifice bunted NeJaime to second base. Rachel DesRochers responded by ripping a one out triple to right field that plated NeJaime. Kelsey Heath headed towards the batter's box and grounded out to Ravens third basemen Gianna Pedone (Haddon Township, N.J.) who saw DesRochers breaking towards home, but fired to first for the easy out allowing the second unearned run of the inning to score. The Pride led 7-0 after three.
The Pride netted their final run during the bottom of the fourth when Katie Cuozzo helped out her own cause by swatting a double to left center that scored Alyssa McKinnon who reached by a single and advanced all the way to third on two wild pitches. That was all the offense Regis needed as Cuozzo shut the door during the top half of the fifth inning and earned the shutout victory, 8-0.