Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Western New England College softball team suffered its first conference loss of the season after dropping the second game of a doubleheader 7-6 in eight innings against Anna Maria Tuesday (Apr. 13).

WNEC is now 18-11 overall and 13-1 in The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC). The AMCATS have a 12-16 record and 8-6 mark in the league.

The Golden Bears took the opener by the score of 4-1 behind the one-hit pitcher of sophomore Sarah Lempicki (Southington, CT) who walked three and struck out a season high 13. She now has a perfect 5-0 record. Lempicki also homered in the fourth that tied the game.

WNEC pushed across three runs in the fifth with RBI singles by senior right fielder Christina Farese (Marlborough, MA) and freshman shortstop Jeana Longo (Schenectady, NY) the big hits. Lempicki also picked up a run-batted-in on a fielders' choice. Farese finished with two hits as did junior first base player Trish Breault (Millville, MA).

In the second game, Anna Maria scored twice in the eighth inning and made two key defensive plays in the bottom of the inning for the win.

Sophomore left fielder Mary Moroski (Worcester, MA) had four hits and three RBI to lead the AMCATS. Her double in the eighth knocked in what proved to be the winning run. 

WNEC had a runner thrown out at third for the first out in the eighth and then another at home to end the game as junior center fielder Emily Nugent (Worcester, MA) came up with the big throw that cut down the potential tying run.

Freshman right fielder Tabitha Ruggeri (Sturbridge, MA) added a single and two doubles for the visitors while junior catcher Sarah Boyda (Oxford, MA) singled twice. Both players scored a pair of runs.

Senior second base player Kate Post (Bridgewater, MA) had a pair of singles and double for Western New England College. Breault contributed two hits and three runs while senior center fielder Lauren Arsenault (Fitchburg, MA) also chipped-in with a pair of hits.