Clermont, FL (March 23, 2024) – After Friday's games were rained out, the Golden Bears were back in action for their final game of "The Spring Games" down in Florida. The Golden Bears took on the Bengals of Buffalo State. The Golden Bears jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Then, the Golden Bears would tack on ten runs in the third inning. WNE would run with that lead and win the game 15-0 in five innings. Eight batters collected at least one hit, with five collecting two or more during the win. Riley Kane went 3-for-3 from the plate and pitched four shutout innings, striking out two batters, and giving up two hits.
Score: Western New England 15, Buffalo State University 0
Riley Kane started in the pitching circle for the Golden Bears' final game in Florida. Madison Lucas was in the circle for the Bengals. The scoring started quickly in the top of the first inning. The Golden Bears had a runner on third and one out. Kailey Carrano would put the ball in play, which the Bengals' shortstop cleanly fielded and threw to first, but it brought Taylor Keegan home, and the Golden Bears led 1-0. The next batter was Madison Mason. Mason would turn on a pitch and send it flying over the left-field fence. Mason's first homerun of the season gave the team a 2-0 lead. The Bengals were able to get two on with two out, but Kane got the batter to ground out to end the first inning. The top of the second saw Riley Kane get on with a single. Then, after being moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Kaleigh Blades brought Kane home with a single down the left-field line. With the Golden Bears up 3-0, Kane walked back out to the circle and sat the Bengals down one, two, three to bring the teams to the top of the third.
The third inning saw the Golden Bears score ten runs. It started with the team having bases loaded and one out. Riley Kane hit a single toward the shortstop, bringing home Kailey Carrano. Then, with two outs, Kaleigh Blades, Taylor Keegan, and Gracie Hemstock would each walk in their at-bats. That brought home Alex Ferriouolo, Lizzie Weston, and Riley Kane. The Golden Bears were up 7-0. Jean Rogers would enter at pitcher for the Bengals after the third walk. Kailey Carrano would get hit by a pitch in the following at-bat, and the Golden Bears were up 8-0 once Kaleigh Blades scored. Madison Mason followed Carrano and smacked a double to right-center field. That brought home Keegan and Hemstock, and the Golden Bears had a 10-0 lead. Alex Ferriouolo copied Mason and smacked a double, but this time it was to left-center field. Carrano and Mason scored. The Golden Bears led 12-0. Lizzie Weston finished the third inning scoring for the Golden Bears with a single to center field, which brought Ferriouolo home. The Golden Bears led 13-0 going into the bottom of the third inning.
Kane would get the Bengals to ground out twice and pop out once to retire the side one, two, three in the bottom of the third. The top of the fourth saw Emma Hooftallen enter the game as the pitcher for the Bengals. The Golden Bears had two quick singles but were not able to bring a runner home, and the score stayed 13-0. Buffalo State University did get a hit in the fourth, but Kane would get out of the inning without giving up a run. The fifth inning saw the Golden Bears pick up two more runs. Kaleigh Blades got on base because of a dropped fly ball by the left fielder. That brought Shelby Blanchart home. Then, an Evelyn Picone double drove Blades home. The Golden Bears led 15-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Emilia Garcia would pitch the final inning for the Golden Bears. The Bengals got multiple runners on, but Garcia was able to get out of the jam by striking out the final batter of the game to put a cap on the win for the Golden Bears. WNE won the game 15-0 in five innings.
Around the Diamond:
Up Next:
- The Golden Bears will return to Massachusetts for their next games. They travel to Suffolk University for a CCC doubleheader on Saturday, March 30, at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.
- Buffalo State University will play the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and Kalamazoo College on Saturday at 11:30 AM and 1:45 PM, respectively, for their final games of "The Spring Games".
