Game One: Westfield State 7 Ð Western Connecticut 1
WESTFIELD Ð Westfield State and Western Connecticut State split a softball doubleheader on Tuesday, April 5, in the northern opener for both teams.
Westfield (4-6) won its home opener, 7-1, while Western Conn. (7-4) came back to win the nightcap, 4-1.
The Owls broke open a close game with a five-run uprising in the bottom of the sixth inning. Junior shortstop Kara Doleva (Shutesbury) had two RBI, including a game-winning RBI single in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Liz Olivera rapped an RBI double to tie the score in the third inning.
Senior third baseman Casey Greggo was the only player with multiple hits in the OwlsÕ eight hit attack; she was 2 for 2. Westfield also took advantage of six walks by three Western Connecticut pitchers.
Winning pitcher Leah Peterson allowed five hits and struck out two in going the distance.
Freshman second baseman Kristen Lugovich (West Haven, CT) collected two singles for the Colonials.
In Game Two, Western Connecticut outhit Westfield State, 11-2, in pulling away for a 4-1 triumph. The Colonials, who stranded 11 baserunners, broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the fifth inning.
Westfield scored a run in the bottom of the fifth and had the bases loaded with one out. But Western Connnecticut survived the scoring threat in a large part due to a sensational fielding play by third baseman Kaitlin Nocera.
Cortney Romyns ripped a triple and single for the winners. Lugovich also rapped two singles in the second game.
Sophomore Lindsey Adams (Westfield) pounded a double for one of the OwlsÕ two hits.
Freshman Shelby Slie (Seymour, CT) went the distance for the mound win; she walked two and struck out six.