Softball doubled up by Johnson & Wales in GNAC doubleheader

(Providence, RI) The Rivier University Softball team was doubled up this afternoon as Johnson and Wales University swept the Great Northeast Athletic Conference doubleheader at the Scotts Miracle-Gro Athletics Complex. Rivier dropped game one by an 8-1 final before losing 12-4 in six innings in game two.

Game One: Johnson and Wales University 8, Rivier University 1 (Final)

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when a bases loaded hit-by-pitch by Diana Amendolara (Newtown, Pa.) sent Emily Gorecki (Bremerton, Wash.) across the plate. In the third, Ariana Caffeso (Johnston, R.I.) struck a single to left that sent two runners around to give JWU the 3-0 lead. Rivier cut into the deficit in the fifth when Kathryn Mostone (Pelham, N.Y.) singled to lead-off the inning and scored on a Lia Bobek (Hollis, N.H.) single thru the left side to bring the score to 1-0. Cynthia Proby (Bremerton, Wash.) smacked a homerun to deep center in the bottom half of the fifth to give JWU the three run lead, 4-1, once more. Senior Taylor Cwalinski (Jackson, N.J.) and Gorecki laced RBI singles before Amendolara sent a two-run triple down the left field line to give the Wildcats a 8-1 lead after six full. Tayla Gardner (Orangeburg, N.Y.) pitched the final two innings for JWU earning her first save of the year while Cwalinski picked up the win striking out 11 and giving up four hits in the victory.

Game Two: Johnson and Wales University 12, Rivier University 4 (Final)

The Wildcats fell behind early in game two as senior Kirstie Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) drove in classmate Nicole Peacock (Warwick, R.I.) to take the early one run lead. JWU stormed back in the bottom of the frame, scoring five with RBI being tallied by Gorecki, Caffesso and freshman Kaycee Babineau (Medway, Mass.) giving the hosts the 5-1 edge. The game remained scoreless until Proby hit a two run homerun, her second of the twin bill, to push the lead to 7-1 after the four full. The teams traded runs in the sixth to make the score 8-2. The top of the sixth saw the Raiders tally two runs with two outs to cut the lead in half, 8-4. JWU tallied four runs in the bottom half of the sixth, capped by a two out RBI double by Gorecki to end the game. Gardner pushed her record to 17-1 on the season going six innings while striking out nine batters. Clark fell to 1-2 on the season tossing five and two thirds innings giving up 18 hits while striking out two.

Rivier falls to 9-23 and 3-17 in GNAC action while the Wildcats improve to 25-9 on the season and 16-4 in conference play. The Raiders will return to action on Saturday, April 19th when they travel to Simmons College for a GNAC doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.