BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Gabrielle Timms (Clark Summit, Pa.) scattered 10 hits and struck out 18 batters over 10 innings of work to pick up a pair of wins as the New England College softball team swept Wentworth, 14-2, and 11-1, in a pair of The Commonwealth Coast Conference games played on Carr Diamond.
The Pilgrims got to work quickly in the opener, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, thanks to an RBI double from sophomore Alyssa Hoot (Waterville, Ohio) and a two-run single from freshman Jessica Kiehl (North Haven, Conn.). New England College doubled its lead two innings later when freshman Elizabeth Harrigan (Weston, Conn.) and senior Megan McDevitt (Newport, N.H.) drew bases-loaded walks and junior Teraysa White (Belgrade, Maine) had an RBI single.
Wentworth cut the lead to 6-2 in the home half of the inning on an RBI single from senior Lizz Harvey (McConnellsburg, Pa.) and an RBI double from classmate Bridget Souza (Medford, Mass.), which plated Harvey.
New England College scored six tmes in the top of the fourth inning to break the game open as Harrigan drew a bases-loaded walk, McDevitt had an RBI on a sacrifice fly, and White and freshman LiAnn Linck (New Fairfield, Conn.) each had two-run doubles. The Pilgrims added two more in the fifth when Hoot scored after Kiehl reached on an error and McDevitt had an RBI double.
Timms allowed two runs on six hits, while striking out 11 to improve to 3-3. White and Kiehl each had two hits, with White and McDevitt driving in three runs apiece.
Freshman Haylee Bacik (Lowell, Mass.) was tagged with the loss, allowing six runs on two hits in 2.1 innings. Freshman Stephanie MacLeay (Ashley Falls, Mass.) and Harvey each pitched in relief. Harvey and Souza paced the offense with two hits each.
Game two saw the Pilgrims score four times in the top of the first inning, thanks in part to four hits and four Wentworth errors, and add four more in the top of the second inning. Senior Melinda Robbins (Oxford, Mass.) had an RBI single in each of the first two frames, while Timms helped her own cause with a pair of singles and an RBI.
New England College added a run in the top of the fourth when Harrigan drew a bases-loaded walk before the hosts got on the board when freshman Roniece Bridge (White Plains, N.Y.) scored the Leopards' lone run. Bridge, who was inserted as a pinch runner after Souza singles, stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch.
The Pilgrims finished the scoring in the top of the fifth, thanks in part to two Wentworth miscues and a sacrifice fly from Hoot.
Timms allowed one run on four hits, walked just one, and struck out seven to improve to 4-3. She also helped her cause at the plate with a 3-for-4 performance and drove in a run. Robbins went 3-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Hoot also drove in two runs.
Harvey was tagged with the loss, allowing 11 runs (four earned). Senior Jen Giudice (Central Valley, N.Y.), Souza, junior Randi Swihart (Gardner, Mass.), and junior Samantha Altieri (Lakeville, Mass.) combined for the Leopards' four hits.
