Beverly, Mass. (May 12, 2024) – The Golden Bears took on the Hawks of Roger Williams University in a winner-take-all CCC Championship game on Sunday. The Golden Bears opened the game with three runs, which were answered immediately by the Hawks, and the score was 3-3 after the first inning. Then, in the fifth inning, Kailey Carrano hit a two-run home run for WNE, and the Golden Bears scored four more runs after that to win the game 9-3. Taylor Keegan led the Golden Bears at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance, which also included a walk. Ava Blanchard pitched 6.1 innings, letting up one hit and no earned runs, and struck out five batters to earn the CCC Championship win for WNE.

Records:

Western New England: 27-13 (11-5)

Roger Williams University: 23-17 (9-7)

Game 1: Western New England 9, Roger Williams University 3

The Golden Bears started the game at the plate with Raegen Germano pitching for the Hawks. The Golden Bears got the scoring started early. Taylor Keegan would score after Gracie Hemstock singled into left field, and an error was made by the Hawks. Then, Kailey Carrano slapped a double into left field, and Hemstock scored to make the score 2-0. Germano would get the next two batters out. However, then Lizzie Weston reached on an error, and Carrano scored to make the lead 3-0. Keira Quadros would enter as the Hawks' pitcher and get the final out. Then, it was the Hawks' turn to bat in the first inning. Evelyn Picone started in the pitching circle for the Golden Bears. Picone got two of the first three batters out. However, the Hawks would rally, and it started with Taylor Howell hitting a single to score Hailey Williams. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Ava Mendence hit a single and drove home Christina Denovellis and Taylor Howell to tie the game 3-3. Ava Blanchard entered the game at pitcher for the Golden Bears and got out of the inning.

Quadros would let up a single in the second, but the Golden Bears could not get a run home. Then, Blanchard sat the Hawks down one, two, three in the bottom of the inning. The third inning saw both teams get three batters up, and the pitchers got all three out. The Golden Bears got a runner on in the fourth inning, but again, Quadros would hold WNE to no runs. Blanchard saw three more Hawks' batters and sat all three down once again. In the fifth, with Taylor Keegan on second and one out, Kailey Carrano hit a pitch deep and far and over the fence down the left field line to give the Golden Bears the 5-3 lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Blanchard made it thirteen batters faced and thirteen batters out. After two quick outs in the top of the sixth inning, Kaleigh Blades turned on a pitch and slapped a hit over the left-field fence for a season-first home run to extend the lead to 6-3. Germano would re-enter at pitcher for the Hawks and, after a walk, got the final out of the inning.

The Hawks got their first hit off Blanchard in the bottom of the sixth inning. However, that is all they would get, and the game would go to the seventh inning. In the seventh, Alex Ferriouolo would extend the WNE lead with a double to left field. Angie Carrasquillo scored on an error. Then, after a strikeout from Germano, Natalie Lundari entering the game at pitcher for the Hawks, and Lundari getting a strikeout, Shea McDaniel singled to bring Ferriouolo home. The next two batters would walk to load the bases, and on a wild pitch, Shea McDaniel scored to give the Golden Bears a 9-3 lead. Blanchard would step in the circle for the bottom of the seventh inning, get the final three outs of the game, and the Golden Bears were champions of the CCC. The Golden Bears won by a final score of 9-3.

Around the Diamond:

• The Golden Bears were led by Taylor Keegan, going 3-for-3, with a walk from the plate.
• The Golden Bears had five extra-base hits, including doubles from Taylor Keegan, Kailey Carrano, and Alex Ferriouolo.
• Kailey Carrano and Kaleigh Blades each hit a home run.
• The Hawks were led by Taylor Howell, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI from the plate.
• Raegen Germano pitched 1.1 innings for the Hawks, letting up three earned runs and striking out two batters. Keira Quadros pitched five innings, letting up three earned runs and striking out two batters. Natalie Lundari pitched 0.2 innings, letting up one earned run and striking out one batter.
• Evelyn Picone pitched 0.2 innings, letting up three earned runs.
• Ava Blanchard pitched 6.1 innings, letting up one hit, no earned runs, and striking out five batters to earn the win.
• The Golden Bears won the CCC Championship game 9-3.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears will move on to the NCAA Tournament. They will find out where and who they will play tomorrow, Monday, 5/13/2024, at 11:00 AM when the selection show is aired.
• The Hawks' season will end with a conference record of 9-7 and an overall record of 23-17.