Softball Drops Pair of Games

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team dropped a pair of shutout losses to New Jersey City University and Penn College at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic. The Leopards fell to the Gothic Knights, 5-0, in the first game of the day, while falling 12-0 to the Cougars in the nightcap at the North Myrtle Beach Complex on Wednesday afternoon.

GAME ONE:  New Jersey City 5, Wentworth 0
New Jersey City got on the board in the top half of the second frame on freshman Christina Mezey's (Jersey City, N.J.) single through the left side.

In the fifth inning, the Gothic Knights put the game away on a three-run home run rocketed to center field from the bat of junior Brittany Paulikas (Fords, N.J.). New Jersey City's lead extended to 5-0 and that is all they would need as the Leopards dropped its first game of the day.

Freshman Hayley Rutkey (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) took the loss for the Leopards (0-1), surrendering three runs on four hits while walking two and punching out three through 4.2 innings. Freshman Erica Norquist (Rutland, Mass.) came in for relief and allowed two runs on two hits while walking one batter. Sophomore Megan Berryman (Middleboro, Mass.) led the Leopards offense, going 2-for-3 with two singles.

Mezey (1-2) earned the win for the Gothic Knights, giving up zero runs on five hits while striking out four and walking two batters. Paulikas led New Jersey City, going 3-for-3 with a three-run homer.

GAME TWO:  Penn College 12, Wentworth 0 (5 innings)
Penn College powered out nine runs through the first two frames to give the Cougars the early 9-0 advantage.

To begin their bottom half of the first inning, the Cougars jumped out to the quick 3-0 lead thanks to back-to-back doubles to left center from freshmen Taylor Brooks (Cogan Station, Pa.) and Kelsey Gantz (South Williamsport, Pa.). After freshman Devin Heimbach (Milton, Pa.) plated due to a throwing error, freshman Maddie Wenk's (Biglerville, Pa.) single to center drove in the Heimbach to give Penn College the 5-0 lead after one.

Now with the 6-0 lead on a Gantz single, two more Cougars runs scored on ground balls. Freshman Tiana McCormick (Williamsport, Pa.) capped off the inning with a single up the middle that scored Wenk.

Wentworth registered their only hit of the nightcap in the top of the third on a two-out single up the middle but sophomore Rachel Willcutt (Tilton, N.H.), but she was stranded at first on a ground ball out to second.

Penn College wrapped the game up as they batted a three-run fourth inning. With two outs and the bases full of Cougars, Brooks launched a single into right field that allowed sophomore Amanda Kustanbauter (Muncy, Pa.) to plate on errors committed by the Leopard defense. Senior Nicole Lo Furno's (Glen Mills, Pa.) RBI single to center sealed the game for the Cougar as they took the second game, 12-0.

Penn College improves to 3-4, while Wentworth drops to 1-3.

Norquist took the loss (1-2), allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine hits through
the 18 batters she faced. Rutkey pitched four innings of relief and allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits, while striking out and walking one batter.

Brooks improved to (1-1) for the Cougars as she pitched five innings and allowed one hit, walking four and punching out six batters.

Wentworth takes on St. Joseph's (L.I.) and Franciscan on Friday at 9:30 and 1:30, respectively.