Box Score Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The second-seeded Western New England softball team opened up The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Championship play on Tuesday (May 3) with a 2-0 win over sixth-seeded Curry. The Colonels defeated Nichols 3-1 in the first game of the afternoon.

The Golden Bears were led by junior pitcher Sarah Lempicki (Plantsville, CT) who tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits while striking out six batters.

The defense behind Lempicki was outstanding, led by freshman center-fielder Maria Francese (Dalton, MA) who made a pair of spectacular catches to help keep the Colonels off the board.

Francese, senior first baseman Tricia Breault (Millville, MA), and freshman designated player Katie Eckert (Lee, MA) each collected a pair of hits on the day.

Western New England plated both of its runs in the bottom of the third, as Eckert singled home Francese and junior right-fielder Rachel Wyrwa (Metheun, MA) scored on a sacrifice fly by senior catcher Elyse Gauvin (Swansea, MA).

Curry senior pitcher Janelle Mayo (Worcester, MA) hit a two-out double in the seventh, but was stranded there to end the game.

Mayo went the distance for the Colonels, allowing nine hits in the contest.

In the first game of the day, Curry knocked-off third-seeded Nichols thanks to an impressive pitching performance from freshman Jennifer Lundstrom (Rehoboth, MA).

Lundstrom struck out nine, allowing one unearned run on a pair of hits.

The Colonels plated three runs in the top of the third on a two-run double by freshman outfielder Chelsey Munsey (Leominster, MA). Munsey then came around to score on a single by senior first baseman Amanda Peters (East Bridgewater, MA).

After Tuesday's action, the Golden Bears improve to 26-15 and will move on to face top-seeded Endicott at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Thursday (May 5). The winner will advance to the championship game on Saturday (May 7) at Endicott.