Posted: Apr 18, 2018
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Westfield State University's softball team was swept in a non-conference doubleheader by Springfield College on Wednesday afternoon. The Pride took the opener, 2-1, before edging the Owls, 7-4, in the nightcap.
The Owls are now 7-15 on the season while the Springfield Pride improves to 21-9 overall.
In the opener, Springfield College's sophomore Yaixsa Vargas (Waterbury, Conn. / J. F. K.) connected for a two-run homerun in the first inning to gain the quick 2-0 lead.
Westfield State's junior Karly Mastello (Russell, Mass. / Westfield) scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to one.
The seventh inning looked promising for the Owls', as Mastello opened with a double to left field, but Springfield College's senior pitcher Talia Loda (East Haven, Conn.) retired the next three hitters to help the Pride clinch the 2-1 victory.
Westfield State's freshman pitcher Emily Arredondo (Woburn, Mass.) earned the loss, going seven innings and allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts.
Sophomore pitcher Allie Wheeler (Agawam, Mass.) earned her first win of the season going four innings and allowing one earned runs with four strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the game was tied 3-3 in the sixth inning before the Pride jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the seventh inning with runs scored by sophomore Marisa Valenti (Trumbell, Conn.), senior Carianna Gasdia (Wakefield, Mass. / Wakefield Memorial), and senior Rachel Ball (Coventry, R.I.).
Sophomore Kara Fluet (Worcester, Mass. / Doherty Memorial) scored on a RBI groundout by junior Caitlin Hughes (Hanson, Mass. / Whitman Hanson) to make it 7-4.
Fluet went three for four, while Leblanc and junior Maddie Keigwin (Sutton, Mass.) each added two hits for Westfield.
Wheeler went two for four with a homerun for the Pride.
Sophomore pitcher Emily Woodworth (Marlborough, Mass.) took the loss for the Owls going six innings and allowing seven earned runs on nine hits with two strikeouts.
Valenti earned her first win of the season going seven innings and allowing four earned runs on ten hits with four strikeouts.
The Owls will host a MASCAC doubleheader against Fitchburg State University on Friday April 20th with games beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Springfield College will travel to Babson College in a conference doubleheader on the same day with games starting at 3:00 p.m.