SENIOR POWER. Laura Bower and Brittany DeGennaro received quite a surprise when they arrived at the softball field Sunday. Teammates painted their numbers on the dugout to say thanks to the two senior co-captains for their friendship and leadership. Bower wears #12, DeGennaro #24.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Senior Laura Bower (Hudson, MA) and freshman Sarah Lempicki (Southington, CT) came through with outstanding pitching performances in leading the Western New England College softball team to 5-2, 9-0 sweep over visiting New England College Sunday afternoon (April 26).
The Golden Bears moved their record to 26-11 overall and remained in second place in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) with a 17-5 mark.
Bower raised her record to 11-5 with a complete game effort allowing five hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. She settled down after a shaky start and retired the last 13 batters.
Junior center fielder Lauren Arsenault (Fitchburg, MA) singled, doubles, stole a base, scored two runs, and walked with the bases loaded for a run-batted-in.
Sophomore first base player Trish Breault (Millville, MA) also added a pair of hits with a run scored, and RBI.
The Pilgrims scored the first runs of the game on a two-run homer to center by sophomore designated player Melinda Robbins (Oxford, MA).
In the second game that was called after five innings due to the mercy rule, Lempicki tossed a perfect four innings strikeout out five in r=improving her record to 7-4. Junior Vic Lospinuso (West Islip, NY) came on in relief and struck out one hitter to complete the shutout.
Junior first base player Kristen Purdy (Candia, NH) broke-up the perfect game with a one-out single in the fifth.
Senior shortstop Brittany DeGennaro (Orange, CT) collected a pair of hits, scored a run, and had an RBI.
Junior right fielder Christina Farese (Marlborough, MA) contributed a single and had three RBI, including a sacrifice fly.
Junior second base player Kate Post (Bridgewater, MA) chipped-in with a single, RBI, and scored three times.
Breault, who upped her batting average to a team-high .440, added a single, two runs, and an RBI.
Bower and DeGennaro were honored before the doubleheader during Senior Day activities. Both players also served as the team co-captains.
New England College falls to 10-28 overall and 4-20 in the conference.
