Leopards Topped by Wesley, Mary Washington

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – On day two of its Spring Break trip in South Carolina, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team fell short in a pair of games on Monday afternoon.

Game One – Mary Washington 12, Wentworth 1

The Eagles broke open the scoring with three runs and two hits in the top half of the first inning for an early 3-0 lead. The Leopards got one back in the third inning as freshman Brianna Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) hit a leadoff single through the ride side before booking it home on a deep single to left by junior Rylee Rehders (Moreno Valley, Calif.) for the 5-1 score. The momentum, however, wasn't enough for the Black & Gold, as Mary Washington ended the tilt with four runs in the seventh for the 12-1 final.

Rehders went 2-for-3 from the plate with the Leopards' lone RBI, while Beverly, Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.), junior Deanna DiPilato (Worcester, Mass.) and freshman Ceilidh Higgins (Medway, Mass.) each recorded a base hit. Freshman Aurora Wilks (Fruitport, Mich) struck out two batters in 5.0 innings tossed in her first collegiate start while classmate Kaitie Verreault (Scarborough, Maine) pitched 2.0 innings of relief.

Game Two – Wesley 3, Wentworth 2

Despite Wesley tacking on a run in its first at-bat, the Leopards fought hard in the nightcap and pulled within a single run, nearly completing the comeback late in the game. Wentworth executed strong defense led by sophomore pitcher Kayla DeMedeiros (South Dartmouth, Mass.), and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second to keep the 1-0 score. In reverse fashion, a double from Verreault double moved senior Emily Winter (Stratford, Conn.) to scoring position with one out down in the Leopards' next at-bat, but Wesley pitcher Dori Loukopoulos retired the last two batters for no advancement.

Wesley filled the bases and drove in its second run of the night in the bottom of the third, and scored once more in the fourth for the 3-0 lead. Down but not out, Pina stepped into the box and belted the first triple of her career to left center, scoring Winter on the play. DiPilato took the plate with two outs down, cracking a fly ball just inside the infield dirt, which was mishandled by Wesley second baseman Brooke Retkowski, allowing Pina to cross home with ease for the 3-2 score.  

In their last chance at the plate, Wentworth dug deep in the top of the seventh inning as Verreault loaded the bases with a base knock to left field. With two down, Wilks cracked a hard hit up the middle, reaching on a fielder's choice, as Wesley's Retkowski erased her earlier mishap, making a diving defensive play at second base for the third out.

Verreault went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Pina added an RBI and a run scored to her line. DeMedeiros fanned three batters in a full game tossed.

NEXT:

Wentworth will play Penn St.-Abington and Penn St.-Fayette in a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 11:30 a.m.