Salve Regina Sweeps Softball

NEWPORT, R.I. – Senior Jen Cruver faced the minimum number of batters in a five inning perfect game to open the Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader against Wentworth. The Seahawks swept the first twinbill, taking the first game 8-0 before downing the Leopards 10-0 in the finale.

Cruver struck out seven Leopards in her perfect game, including three in the first inning. The right hander got six of the remaining eight outs on the ground while just two pop ups went to senior Ali Muehlbronner (Glendside, Pa.) at shortstop.

The Seahawk bats gave Cruver plenty of breathing room to comfortably pitch. Salve Regina took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second after leaving the bases loaded in the first. Muehlbronner to right field to drive home junior Sara Nelson (Bristol, Conn.). Classmate Marissa Simpson (Brimfield, Mass.) broke open the game with a two-run double to center to bring home Muehlbronner and Cruver.

The Seahawks tacked on five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-0 lead. With the bases loaded, freshman Melissa Figueiredo stole home to give Salve 4-0 lead before Nelson reached on a fielding error with the bases loaded that allowed Simpson to score. With the bases still loaded, sophomore Lauren Nicholson (Cape Elizabeth) walked to push the Seahawk lead to 6-0. Muehlbronner singled home Nicholson and Nelson to give Salve Regina an 8-0 lead.

The offense would be plenty for Cruver as she got two ground outs and a pop up to end the fifth inning.

Salve Regina's bats did not cool off into the second game as the Seahawks plated nine runs in the bottom of the third to put the game out of reach for the Leopards. Senior Megan Jakiela (Meriden, Conn.) singled to left to score Nelson to get the scoring going in the third before Nelson walked to load the bases. Nicholson drove home junior Jennifer Edine (Warwick, R.I.) and Jakiela before Cruver helped herself out with a RBI-single to center to score Nelson. Figueiredo singled home Nicholson before Simpson walked with the bases loaded to give Salve Regina a 7-0 lead. Senior Jillian Quintana (Denver, Colo.) reached on a fielder's choice that got Figueiredo out at third and drove home Muehlbronner. In Edine's second at bat of the inning, the junior drove home the final two runs of the game when reaching on a fielding error by the Leopards shortstop.

Wentworth did get its first base runner of the afternoon in the top of the third with a single from junior Paige Mochi (Cambridge, Mass.) before sophomore Angie Rodriguez (Boston, Mass.) followed by a bunt single for the first two Leopard baserunners. Cruver got the final two outs of the inning to not allow the Leopards to score.

The Leopards got its final base runner of the game when Mochi singled to left with two outs but Rodriguez lined out to the pitcher to end the game.

Pacing the Seahawks at the plate was Simpson and Jakiela with four hits each, while Mochi led the Leopards with two hits in the second game.

Cruver picked up the win in both games, going a full five innings in each and striking out 10 in the doubleheader and allowing just three hits and no walks. Freshman Kate Lee (Spruce Head, Maine) took the loss in the first game, going 4.0 innings, allowing eight runs, five earned, on eight hits and seven walks. Sophomore Anna Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) took the loss in the second game, pitching 4.0 innings, allowing 10 runs, all earned on eight hits and six walks.

Salve Regina returns to the diamond on Tuesday, April 16 when the Seahawks host Lesley at Toppa Field at 4 p.m. The Leopards return to action on April 17 when they travel to Emmanuel for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 6:30 p.m.

(Courtesy of Salve Regina Sports Information)