Pina Reaches Milestone as Softball Opens League Play with Sweep of UNE

BOSTON, Mass. – Graduate student Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.) became the 11th student-athlete in Wentworth Institute of Technology softball history to record their 100th career hit, helping the Leopards to a pair of Commonwealth Coast Conference victories as the Leopards (14-4, 2-0) defeated the University of New England (3-15 (0-2), 11-0, and 9-1.

GAME ONE:  Wentworth 11, University of New England 0 (five innings)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Senior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) twirled a one-hit shutout, setting down the first eight University of New England batters, to set the tone early. While Hancock was dealing, Wentworth's bats were helping the cause, scoring twice in the first inning on a graduate student Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) RBI double, which scored senior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.). On a flyout, Beverly tagged up and took third base and scored on a passed ball.
• The second inning saw the Leopards score four times. Hancock led off with a doble and went to third on a sophomore Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) single. Rowe stole second and sophomore Katelin Howe (Bow, N.H.) followed by reaching on an error which scored Hancock. Pettenger delivered a two-run double to score Rowe and Howe and Beverly drove in Pettenger.
• An inning later, the Black & Gold put up three runs as Rowe homered, scoring Hancock who had singled and reached second on an error. Howe singled and advanced to second on a groundout and came around to score on a Beverly double. Wentworth scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, with Hancock driving in a pair of runs with a double.
• Hancock improved to 6-2 on the season, striking out six over five innings. She helped her cause at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Beverly was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI. Pettenger and Rowe each had a pair of hits and drove in two runs.

GAME TWO:  Wentworth 9, University of New England 1 (six innings) 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Picking up where they left off in game one, the Leopards jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as freshman Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) grounded out to score Pettenger, who had led off with a single. Senior Julia Bollentin (South Kingstown, R.I.) had a RBI single to score Pina, who had walked. Bollentin scored after going to third ona wild pitch and scoring on an errant throw.
• Wentworth scored four times in the third inning, to take a 7-0 lead. Pina reached the 100-hit milestone with a one-out double and scored when Igawa doubled her home. Bollentin was hit by a pitch and Rowe singled to load the bases. Senior Julia Hutchinson (North Billerica, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice, which allowed Igawa and Bollentin to both score on an error, while sophomore Kayla Richard (High Point, N.C.) grounded out to score Rowe.
• The Leopards got a single run in the bottom of the fourth, extending their lead to 8-0 as Pina ripped a solo home run. UNE got its lone run in the top of the fifth inning, thanks to an RBI single, and threatened to cut into the lead more in the sixth inning, however, left two runners in scoring position.
• In the home half of the sixth, it took just two batters to end the game as Pettenger led off with a triple and Beverly followed with a single.
• Freshman Julie Schriver (Moscow, Pa.) improved to 7-1 on the season, allowing one run on two hits in six innings. Pettenger, Beverly, Pina, Bollentin, and Rowe each had two hits, while Igawa drove in two runs.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Wentworth has now won the last two series meetings.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth hosts Roger Williams on Wednesday.

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