NEW LONDON, Conn. - Coast Guard softball was overpowered by Roger Williams' pitching as the Bears fell in both games in today's doubleheader by scores of 1-3 and 0-8 (5 inn.). The Hawks amassed 22 strikeouts between both games.
Coast Guard moves to 4-4 while Roger Williams improves to 7-5. The Hawks will look to extend their now five-game win streak on March 25th as they host 8-2 Wheaton College (Mass.) in a non-conference doubleheader.
GAME ONE: Coast Guard 1, Roger Williams 3
The Bears were down early after RWU's
Shannon Starratt (Lake George, N.Y.) scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. They'd add to their total in the second, first on an RBI single down the left field line by
Ashley Klingberg (Yorkville, Ill.) and then on a fielders choice ground ball to third base with runners on second and third by
Hayley Williams (Vernon, Conn.).
The Bears were blanked in the runs column until the sixth inning.
Bridget Bartz (Arlington, Va.) was called upon to pinch hit and brought
Maura Murphy (Bristow, Va.) around from second base with a single. RWU sent the Bears down 1-2-3 in the bottom seventh to claim the win.
The only other Coast Guard position player to reach base via hit was
Hayden Reilly (Prosper, Tex.), who crushed a lead-off double in the bottom of the first. Reilly also reached via walk later on, same as Murphy and
Abriana Schmutz (Marysville, Ohio), while middle infielders
Mack Murnane (Wilmington, N.C.) and
Lauren Ragonese (Liverpool, N.Y.) both earned a pass to first after getting hit.
Dana Walker (Macon, Ga.) spent the whole game in the circle and was nails after shaky first and second innings. The junior allowed no runs, no walks, and just one hit while striking out two after the opening two frames. Hawks starter
Raegen Germano (Old Tappan, N.J.) had a career game, striking out 15 while getting the win.
GAME 2: Coast Guard 0, Roger Williams 8
The second game of the day started similarly for Coast Guard, who found themselves in a three-run hole after the first inning. RWU added another in the top of the fourth after
Kayleigh O'Connor (Southington, Conn.) grounded out to shortstop with runners on second and third. The Hawks entered their next at-bats in the fourth with four runs and proceeded to double that total before keeping Coast Guard off the board in the bottom frame and the fifth to claim a mercy-rule win.
O'Connor and outfielder
Vianna Chamberlin (East Providence, R.I.) had three and two RBIs, respectively, including one each in the big fourth inning; Murnane, Murphy, and Schmutz were responsible for the Bears' three hits, while the team was held back by five errors.
Keira Quadros (East Providence, R.I.) put together a seven-strikeout outing on her way to the win. Coast Guard used three pitchers, with Walker re-entering as the last and throwing a scoreless inning.
Bears softball now gets over a week off before their next contest on March 29th. They'll be looking to bounce back in the NEWMAC-opening doubleheader as they host Babson College (5-3). The teams split last season's match-ups at Babson Park, which saw Coast Guard take the second of the day in a 4-3 seventh-inning comeback win.
