Commanding Wins Continue for Softball

AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A balanced attack guided by sophomore Katie Kranz (Bedford, Mass.) led the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (4-0) to commanding victories over Geneva and Elizabethtown on Tuesday morning. Kranz finished the two contests going 5-6 from the plate, featuring two doubles and a home run with 4 RBI.

 
GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 10, GENEVA 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Leopards capitalized on their chance to get on the board in the top of the first inning as, with two runners on base, sophomore Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) singled to bring graduate student Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) in for the score. Graduate student Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) advanced to third on Rowe's single and later scored on a passed ball, giving Wentworth a 2-0 edge early on.
• With two runners on base in the top of the second, a Beverly ground out brought home sophomore Katelin Howe (Bow, N.H.) to extend the Leopards lead to 3-0 while bringing senior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lakes, N.J.) to third.
• Wentworth continued to bring home runners on base in the top of the third, as a single by sophomore Katie Kranz (Bedford, Mass.) moved two runners on base, with freshman Kait Shawney (Northwood, N.H.) scoring to extend the Leopards' lead to 4-0.
• Geneva threatened the score with bases loaded in the fifth inning. Senior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) walked a batter, giving senior Danielle Goodman (Glen Burnie, Md.) the score. Following the walk, a single by junior Julia Hart (Prospect, Pa.) brought in two runners, cutting Geneva's deficit to one at 4-3.
• Kranz added another RBI to her day in the top of the sixth inning, bringing home Hancock on a double to extend Wentworth's lead to 5-3. Later, with the bases loaded, Pina was walked, bringing home Kranz. Shortly after, Howe slid home on a passed ball to add to Wentworth's lead, 7-3.
• The Leopards boosted their lead by two later in the sixth inning on a double by senior Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.), bringing home Pina and Pettenger, while raising the score to 9-3. A Pettenger single in the top of the seventh inning brought home Kranz, bringing Wentworth's lead to 10-3.
• Hancock pitched all seven innings for the Leopards, striking out three along the way. Offensively, Kranz led the team at the plate, going 3-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and 3 RBI.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 7, ELIZABETHTOWN 1

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• In the bottom of the first inning, with the bases loaded, all three base runners, Bollentin, Pina, and Pettenger all shuffled one base on a wild pitch, bringing Pettenger home to put the Leopards ahead 1-0. Shortly after, freshman Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) smashed a double to left field with the bases loaded, bringing home three runners and putting the Black & Gold ahead 4-0.
• One inning later, a Bollentin single brought in Beverly, extending the Leopards' lead to five at 5-0. The runs continued for the Leopards when Kranz blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning, continuing Wentworth's lead to 6-0.
• With two runners on base, a Pettenger single right to center field in the fifth inning brought Howe to second and freshman Quincy Bolduc (Deerfield, N.H.) to home plate, raising Wentworth's advantage to 7-0.
• Elizabethtown got on the board in the top of the seventh inning, marking a 7-1 score.
• In a complete game, freshman Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) struck out eight and surrendered only five hits. Offensively, Kranz went 2-2 at the plate, notching a home run. Pettenger and Igawa both went 2-4 at the plate, with Igawa securing three RBI.

SERIES NOTES:

• Today marked the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth travels back to Winter Haven, Fla. to take on Heidelberg and Carnegie Mellon tomorrow morning.

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