Hawks sweep AMCATS in conference opener

BRISTOL, R.I. – The Roger Williams University Softball team rolled off its fourth straight win with a The Commonwealth Coast Conference doubleheader sweep of Anna Maria College Sunday afternoon, winning the first game 6-4 and the second 11-0 in five innings.

In the first game, Anna Maria starter suffered from control problems throughout her outing. Though the Hawks scored four runs in the first innings, the team only managed one hit over that span, a single to center by Kelly Marcin (Windsor Locks, Conn.) By the time Hackenson was relieved, she had given up four runs (three earned) in 1.2 innings pitched on six walks, two hit batters, and eight wild pitches.

Anna Maria picked up one of the runs back in the bottom of the second, with Jill Hurley (Worcester, Mass.) coming in on a Samantha Putis (Charlton, Mass.) RBI single to right center. The AMCATS added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-3 game. Mary Moroski (Worcester, Mass.) scored on an RBI groundout by Kayla Cummings (Auburn, Maine), followed by Hurley coming in on Dominique Marchand's (Mendon, Mass.) RBI single.

In the top of the fifth, Hannah Pirez (Bolton, Mass.) gave the Hawks an insurance run with a solo home run to left center, adding to the Hawks' one-run lead. The run proved to be crucial as Anna Maria tacked on another score in the bottom of the sixth on Cumming's RBI groundout.

Pirez followed up her performance with her second solo shot of the day in the top of the seventh, putting the Hawks on top 6-4 with her first multi-home run game of her career. The score would hold with the AMCATS set down in order in the bottom of the frame.

Jaclyn Doolin (Miller Place, N.Y.) notched the win for RWU, allowing four runs (three earned) in seven innings, giving up five hits and a walk while striking out eight. Pirez finished 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Marcin and Sarah Grill (Watervliet, N.Y.) added a hit and a run scored apiece.

Hackenson took the loss for Anna Maria while Michelle Blackler (Ashland, Mass.) pitched the final 5.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits with three Ks. Hurley went 1-for-2 with two runs scored while Cummings added a pair of RBIs.

The second game opened up similar to the first, with the Hawks jumping on top 3-0 in the first on RBIs from Rachel Ehrlich (Southport, Conn.), Kaitlyn Costa (Cranston, R.I.), and Laura McConnell (Lexington, Mass.). The Hawks would add three more in the second to go up 6-0.

Ehrlich notched her second RBI hit of the day in the fourth to bring in Pirez, and would later score on a wild pitch to put RWU on top 8-0. The Hawks capped off the scoring in the fifth with three runs in the frame, two of which came off of Pirez's third home run of the day.

Marcin held the AMCAT offense in check in the win, allowing only two hits and a walk in five innings while striking out three for her first shutout win of the year. Grill finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs scored while Ehrlich was 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run scored. Pirez and Costa added two hits each, with Pirez contributing two runs scored and two RBI.

Hackenson suffered the loss for Anna Maria, tagged for all 11 runs (nine earned) in five innings on 12 hits and three walks. Marchand and Alyssa Boykin (Worcester, Mass.) each had a hit for Anna Maria in the game, with Marchand getting a double.

Roger Williams (5-11, 4-0 TCCC) hosts Salve Regina University Tuesday at 4:00 p.m., while Anna Maria (7-7, 0-2 TCCC) travels to Endicott College, also on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.

Release Courtesy of RWU Sports Information

Photo Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information