Softball Outpaces Emmanuel in Doubleheader

BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (12-4) continued their winning ways on a sunny Sunday at Sweeney Field as the Leopards fended off inner-city rival Emmanuel (7-9) in a doubleheader by respective 6-3 and 5-3 scores.

 
GAME ONE: WENTWORTH 6, EMMANUEL 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Saints notched a run in the second inning on a walk with the bases loaded. In the second half of the inning, the Leopards responded, as junior Annabelle Hebard (North Attleboro, Mass.) blasted a two-run home run through centerfield. The hit put the Black & Gold ahead 2-1 with sophomore Katie Kranz (Bedford, Mass.) already on base.
• An inning later, with senior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.), graduate student Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) singled while bringing in Pettenger to score, marking a 3-1 advantage for the hosts.
• Emmanuel tied things up in the fourth inning as a sacrifice bunt drove home freshman Christyna Winstead (Uncasville, Conn.) just before a double from senior Lylah Niederberger (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) drove in another run. The two scores evened the contest at three apiece.
• A Pettenger hit beyond the second baseman in the bottom of the fourth inning brought in two scores, marking a 5-3 advantage for Wentworth.
• In the bottom of the sixth inning, a double from graduate student Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) drove home Pettenger, extending the Leopards' lead to 6-3.
• Hebard (2-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Pettenger (2-4, 2 RBI) guided Wentworth's offense, while freshman Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) struck out three across 5.1 innings of action.

GAME TWO: WENTWORTH 5, EMMANUEL 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Emmanuel again scored the opening run of the game as a triple from senior Julyanne Pacheco (Somerset, Mass.) in the third inning drove in a score, giving the visitors a 1-0 edge.
• Wentworth's offense came alive in the later portion of the inning, as a Beverly single with the bases loaded drove in a run by freshman Kait Shawney (Northwood, N.H.), tying the game at 1-1. A Pina sacrifice fly on the next at bat drove home two more Leopards, giving Wentworth a 3-1 advantage.
• With Beverly on third shortly after, the graduate student brought in another score on a passed ball. In the fourth inning, Shawney also took advantage of a passed ball, scoring and extending the Leopards' lead to 5-1.
• The Saints pushed back in the seventh inning as junior Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) blasted a home run of her own with a runner on base, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Wentworth's infield stayed strong the rest of the way, getting the next three batters out following to complete the game in the Black & Gold's favor.
• Offensively, Shawney and freshman Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) tallied two hits for the Leopards while Pina (2) and Beverly (1) notched RBI. On the mound, senior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) struck out four in a complete game.

SERIES NOTES:

• Wentworth has now won three-straight between the two teams.

NEXT UP:

• The Black & Gold continue their homestand next Saturday against Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Roger Williams.

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