CLERMONT, Fla. (March 12, 2026) – After a day to rest and enjoy the sunshine in Florida, the Golden Bears were back on the diamond in Clermont for two games with Lasell University and Otterbein University. They would split the day after scoring in every inning versus Lasell to win 13-5 in six innings, and dropping a tightly contested game two, 5-4, versus Otterbein.
Game One:
Score: Final/6
- Western New England: 13
- Lasell University: 5
How it Happened (vs. Lasell University)
First Inning:
- Riley Kane would see two runners get on in the top of the first, but would strike out the final Lasell batter to get the momentum rolling for the Golden Bears.
- That momentum was used by the offense to give Kane some run support. It started with Evelyn Picone reaching base on an error, scoring Marley Rodriguez. WNE led 1-0. Then, another fielding error led to Riley Kane making it to base, and both Picone and Nicolina Salanto scoring. WNE led 3-0.
Second Inning:
- Kane would sit the Lasell batters down in order to start the second before WNE extended their lead in the bottom of the inning, thanks to an Olivia Lugo triple, scoring Shea McDaniel, and Lugo scoring thanks to another fielding error after Picone got the ball in play. WNE led 5-0.
Third Inning:
- The top of the third saw the first two batters get out, but a two-out rally started with a Riley Michael single. Adreanna Ventullo singled, scoring Michael and then Madalen Brown on a throwing error. WNE led 5-2.
- Then, three RBI singles in a row from Emma Tarleton, Alyssa Bland, and Ashlyn McCampbell tied the game at 5-5 before Kane got the final batter to pop out.
- WNE answered with three runs of their own, though. Marley Rodriguez doubled to left field, and McDaniel scored to give WNE a 6-5 lead. Picone followed that by grounding out, but Rodriguez would score, and Lugo would also cross the plate after a throwing error. WNE's lead was 8-5.
Fourth Inning:
- Kane rebounded by getting three of the four batters faced in the fourth inning out. Shea McDaniel helped Kane out with a single in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 9-5. Mia Marigliano scored on that single.
Fifth Inning:
- Evelyn Picone would enter as the WNE pitcher in the fifth inning and would see two runners get on base, but would ultimately end the top of the inning with a strikeout to keep the WNE lead at four.
- Three more runs were added by the Golden Bears thanks to Payton McDaniel reaching base on a fielding error and Ava Barnhart hitting a double into right-center field. Picone, Katelyn Bailey, and Payton McDaniel all scored during the inning, and WNE led 12-5.
Sixth Inning:
- Kaylin Heffern entered the contest to pitch for WNE in the sixth. The runners would get to second and third versus Heffern, but Heffern got the final two outs of the top of the inning to hold Lasell at bay.
- Payton McDaniel ended the contest in six innings with a shot down the right field line. Shea McDaniel scored, and WNE won the game 13-5 in six innings.
Inside the Diamond:
Game Two:
- Western New England: 4
- Otterbein University: 5
How it Happened (vs. Otterbein University):
First Inning:
- Kara Mekulsia started the game in the pitching circle for Otterbein and would make quick work of the Golden Bears in the first, leading to momentum and a run scored by Caitlin Wilkins on a wild pitch. Otterbein led 1-0 after the first.
Second Inning:
- After getting the leadoff hitter on, the Golden Bears were held hitless by Mekulsia in the second, but Kaylin Heffern would shut down Otterbein too to keep the contest at 1-0.
Fourth Inning:
- The third inning saw both pitchers sit the opposing lineup down one, two, three.
- The fourth inning would see more runners get on base, but again, both pitchers stood strong and would not let the other team be the next one to score. The score stayed at 1-1.
Fifth Inning:
- The fifth saw Mekulsia continue to hold the Golden Bears scoreless. However, Otterbein finally got some more runs on the board thanks to a Rachel Miller double and an Emma Catkins single. Two runs scored, and Otterbein led 3-0.
Sixth Inning:
- WNE would get on the board in the sixth and in a big way. Katelyn Bailey tripled, sending a hit to center field. That drove Katherine Brooks and Marley Rodriguez home to cut the lead to 3-2.
- Alyssa Ferriouolo then singled, a first-career Golden Bear hit, which drove Bailey home, and WNE had tied the score at 3-3.
- Otterbein would answer, though. Bre Preston singled to bring home one run, and Caitlin Wilkins singled to score another. WNE now trailed 5-3.
Seventh Inning:
- The Golden Bears did not shy away from the fight. Angelees Carrasquillo scored on a passed ball after an Ava Barnhart double saw Carrasquillo enter the game as a pinch runner.
- With no outs, WNE saw the next two batters get on base. However, Otterbein's defense would step up after that and not let WNE score the game-tying run. WNE lost game two 5-4.
Inside the Diamond:
- The Golden Bears fell to Otterbein 5-4.
- Katelyn Bailey led WNE from the plate by going 2-2, with a double, a triple, and a walk. Bailey also drove home one run.
- Ava Barnhart also had a double for WNE, while Marley Rdoriguez had another multiple-hit game.
- Three hitters for Otterbein had two or more hits. Caitlin Wilkins went 3-4 with an RBI, Rachel Miller went 2-4 with an RBI, and Bre Preston went 2-3 with an RBI.
Up Next:
The Golden Bears will take on WPI and Utica University on Friday, March 12, 2026, at 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM back at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Florida.
