Game One: Rhode Island College 3 Ð Westfield State 0
Game Two: Rhode Island College 6 Ð Westfield State 5
WESTFIELD Ð Rhode Island College raised its record to 18-12 by sweeping Westfield State, 3-0 and 6-5, in a non-conference softball doubleheader April 21.
The Rams won despite collecting only seven hits in the two games.
In the opener, they scored two first-inning unearned runs on no hits, two Westfield errors, and a sacrifice fly by Amy Machado (Newport, RI).
No. 8 hitter Megan Ponte (Wakefield, RI) had all three of RICÕs hits in Game One, including a solo home run in the seventh inning. Ponte also led off the fifth inning with a triple but was unable to score.
Freshman Heidi Eichler (Madison, CT) hurled a four-hit shutout for the pitching win. She struck out four and walked one.
Junior Beth Garfield (Brockton, MA) was the losing pitcher. She struck out three, walked one and hit two batters.
In the nightcap, RIC was outhit, 9-4, but took advantage of eight walks, two hit batters and five wild pitches by Westfield senior pitcher Leah Peterson (Lakeville, MA).
RIC leadoff hitter Christie Lotti (Waterford, CT) rapped a two-run single in the second inning. The Owls tied the scored in the third when freshman Jacqui Turner banged a two-run double off the leftfield fence.
The Rams scored three runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Ponte, a bases loaded walk to Lotti and a wild pitch. Westfield scored two unearned runs in the home half of the frame on a double by catcher Liz Patricelli (Hudson), followed by two throwing errors.
RIC scored an unearned run in the top of the seventh on a passed ball to take a 7-5 lead. Patricelli rapped an RBI double in the OwlsÕ final at bats but the rally fell short.
Patricelli, Turner and Garfield each collected two hits.
Sophomore Nicole Riley (North Providence, RI) pitched into the sixth inning for the pitching win. Eichler came in to earn her first save of the season.