SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (March 27, 2022) – The Western New England Softball team went for a double win today against the Fitchburg State University Falcons for their first home game of the season. They won the first game of the set 3-1 and dominated the Falcons in the second game for a final score of 15-0 in five innings.

Records:

• Western New England: 7-6
• Fitchburg State University: 5-8

Game 1: Western New England 3, Fitchburg State, 1

After a scoreless first inning, the Fitchburg State Falcons Julia Gauvin knocked one out of the park over center field to give them a 1-0 start in the top of the second. The Golden Bears only got one hit in and no runs in the bottom of the inning. starting pitcher Megan Beebe opened the top of the third with two quick strikeouts for three straight outs to bring them to the bottom of the inning. WNE did not complete a hit in the bottom, and the next two innings were scoreless.

The Golden Bears took over the ball game in the bottom of the sixth. It started with Kailey Carrano hitting a single to third base that Ines Baez Flores pinch ran for. Dina DiBlasio followed with a single to center field. The Falcons brought in their relief pitcher Mackenzie Leveille. After two outs Brianna Floyd collected two RBIs on a single to center field for DiBlasio and Flores to run past home plate and take the lead. Taylor Keegan was up to bat to pinch hit for Amaya George, and she collected another RBI for the Golden Bears for a score of 3-1 before getting the final out to go into the top of the seventh inning. Fitchburg St. only had one out with bases loaded, but Golden Bears Beebe closed out the game by striking out Falcon's Julia Gauvin swinging and Sarah Cahill looking, for a final score of 3-1 in the first of the two-game series.

Inside The Diamond:

• Western New England Taylor Keegan went 1-1 at bat and collected one RBI. Brianna Floyd went 1-3, collected two RBIs, and one run.
• Dina DiBlasio also went 1-3 for the Golden Bears and completed a run.
• Starting Pitcher Megan Beebe collected the win for the day to now be 2-3, she pitched in all seven innings, faced 25 batters, allowing only four hits and one homerun while gathering 12 strikeouts.
• Western New England scored three runs in six hits on the game, giving up only four hits and one run.

Game 2: Western New England 15, Fitchburg State 0

In the top of the first inning, the Falcons did not complete a run while the Golden Bears reached home plate six times in the bottom of the inning. Taylor Keegan stole second after a single hit towards the pitcher. Kaleigh Blades collected the first RBI in the second match up of the day, and Dina DiBlasio added another before the Golden Bears got one out in the inning. WNE had the bases loaded when Cori Rizzo bombed one out the park for four more RBIs and a game lead of 6-0 before closing out the inning. The Falcons went 3-4 in outs to top off the second. The Bottom started with WNE DiBlasio hitting a triple to right field and scored when Alex Ferriouolo was grounded out by at short stop. Brianna Floyd went added another RBI, and the Golden Bears now led 8-0.

WNE had complete dominance of the ball game after the bottom of the third. They picked up four more runs in six hits. Kailey Carrano hit a sacrifice fly for Blades to score after Keegan ran past home on a wild pitch. Lizzie Weston singled to right field and Amaya George completed a run. Rizzo added her fifth RBI on the second game before the ending of the third. The Golden Bears led 12-0. The top of the fourth WNE brought in Dayna Jackvony to relieve starting pitcher Ava Blanchard, and she held the Falcons to one hit in the top of the inning. The Golden Bears could not be stopped. Carrano picked up her second RBI in the bottom of the fourth and DiBlasio hit the second homerun of the day for WNE. She also picked up two more RBIs and the Golden Bears controlled the game 15-0. They closed out the game with only giving up one more hit in the top of the fifth for the second win today.

Around The Diamond:

• Western New England's was led by Cori Rizzo and Dina DiBlasio who were both 100% at bat. Rizzo went, completed two runs, one being a homerun, and collected five RBIs. DiBlasio also hit a homerun, 4-4 at bat, finished three runs, and gathered three RBIs.
• Kaleigh Blades also went 3-3 in game two on the day, completed three runs, and collected one RBI.
• Taylor Keegan completed two runs and was 3-4. Kailey Carrano added another run for WNE, plus two RBIs, while going 2-3.
• Western New England scored 15 runs in 18 hits on the game. They gave up zero runs and six hits.
• Starting Pitcher was Ava Blanchard took the win for the day to bring her record to 3-1. She pitched in three innings, faced 12 batters and only allowed four hits. Relief pitcher Dayna Jackvony faced eight batters in two innings, recorded a strikeout, and allowed only two hits.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears remain at home for their next pair of games against Amherst college Wednesday March 30, for a 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. start time.
• The Falcons are traveling to Curry College for their next double-header March 30, at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.