SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (April 18, 2026) – The Golden Bears welcomed the Hawks to Springfield for a conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon. The Hawks took an early lead in game one before WNE earned runs in every inning at bat except for the first to win 8-3, with
Riley Kane picking up career strikeout 200. Game two saw RWU jump out to another lead. This time, the led 5-0 and held on for a 5-4 win despite WNE's four-run seventh inning.
Game One:
Score:
- Western New England: 8
- Roger Williams University: 3
How it Happened:
First Inning:
- Riley Kane got the first two Hawk batters out quickly before a two-out rally from the Hawks saw the bases loaded. Adrianna Amaral would then put the ball in play, and after a tough play could not be made by the WNE defense, two runs scored, and the Hawks had a 2-0 lead. That lead would hold through the bottom of the inning as Raegan Germano would strike out the side to set the tone on defense for the Hawks.
Second Inning:
- The Hawks got hits early in the second and threatened with more runs, but Kane would get out of the inning unscathed in terms of runs. The Golden Bears did damage in the bottom of the second, though. It all started with a single from Riley Kane at the beginning of the inning.
- Nicolina Salanto hit a sacrifice fly ball to short left field, and a misthrow would bring Kane home. Then, a single from Shea McDaniel that saw her beat the throwout at first brought Katelyn Bailey home, and WNE tied the game, 2-2.
Third Inning:
Fourth Inning:
- Kane started to find a groove after the first inning, and it continued in the fourth, letting up one hit, but no runs, to keep the two-run lead for WNE. WNE would then load the bases with one out in the fourth before the Hawks would make a pitching change and bring Natalie Lundari into the game.
- WNE earned a run with Evelyn Picone drawing a walk to extend their lead to 5-2. Then, Riley Kane launched a double off the fence in center field to bring two runs home. However, the second runner who scored was called out after an appeal, and Kane was only credited for one RBI. WNE led 6-3 after the fourth.
Fifth Inning:
- Madison Moran got the Hawks back on the scoreboard with a double in the top of the inning, driving Shannon Starratt home. WNE's lead was cut to 6-3. However, WNE's Shea McDaniel would hit into an out that drove Keira Czarkowski home, and WNE reestablished a four-run lead as they led 7-3.
Sixth Inning:
- Kane kept the WNE lead where it was before WNE extended their lead to five in the bottom of the sixth. Evelyn Pcione ripped a triple down the left-field line, which led to Alyssa Ferriouolo getting driven home as the pinch runner by Riley Kane, who hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field. WNE's lead became 8-3.
Seventh Inning:
- The seventh inning saw the first batter get on base, but a strikeout from Kane and a double play ended the contest, and WNE won game one 8-3.
Inside the Diamond:
- The Golden Bears defeated the Hawks in game one, 8-3.
- Riley Kane led the Golden Bears in the pitching circle and at the plate. She went 2-for-2, with a double and a walk at the plate, driving two runs home.
- In the pitching circle, Kane pitched seven innings, letting up one earned run and striking out three batters. Kane picked up her 200th career strikeout in game one to earn the win.
- The Golden Bears had two extra-base hits, with Evelyn Picone having the other extra-base hit, a triple.
- Hailey Williams led the Hawks by going 3-for-4. Madison Moran and Adrianna Amaral both had doubles for the Hawks in their loss.
Game Two:
Score:
- Western New England: 4
- Roger Williams University: 5
How it Happened:
First Inning:
- Game two started similarly, with RWU earning two runs in the top of the first. It was Madison Moran launching a home run over the left-field fence to give them a 2-0 early lead. WNE collected two hits, including a Riley Kane double, but could not score; WNE's deficit stayed at two.
Second Inning:
- The Hawks got runners on second and third, but Brianna Cardona shut the door on an extended lead with a strikeout to end the top of the second. However, WNE could not find any runs in the bottom of the inning.
Third Inning:
- Sophia Keays would enter the game as the WNE pitcher after a leadoff walk for the Hawks. RWU had runners on first and second twice, but Keays would not let up a run, and the score stayed at 2-0. WNE was sat down in order to end the third with the Hawks still up by two runs.
Fourth Inning:
- The fourth saw the Hawks extend their lead with a Hailey Williams single, scoring Kayleigh O'Connor. RWU led 3-0. The very next batter was Shannon Starratt, who slapped a two-run home run over the left-field fence, and they had a 5-0 lead. Kaylin Heffern entered the game as the third Golden Bears pitcher and got the final out. WNE could not get a runner on in the fourth, and the lead stayed at five for the Hawks.
Fifth Inning:
- Neither team was able to do much from the plate in the fifth, and the Hawks took a 5-0 lead into the final two innings of play.
Sixth Inning:
- The sixth saw both pitchers sit the opposition down in order, as well, and the Golden Bears would be down to their final three outs of the game in the seventh inning.
Seventh Inning:
- The Hawks would not be able to extend the lead in the seventh before the Golden Bears started to rally. WNE's Angelees Carrasquillo got on base due to a fielder's choice, and an error kept the Golden Bears with no outs and a run scored. WNE trailed 5-1.
- The next batter was Alyssa Ferriouolo, who slapped a single through the left side of the infield. An error saw all three runners score who were on base, and WNE trailed 5-4, with no outs.
- Keira Quadros would settle down after that and get the next three WNE batters out in order, and WNE fell 5-4 in game two.
Inside the Diamond:
- The Hawks took game two to split the series with a 5-4 win.
- Four Hawks had a hit in game two, with all five runs coming from three of those hits.
- Madison Moran and Shannon Starratt picked up two RBIs with their hits, and Hailey Williams had the other RBI.
- Starratt and Moran both had two-run home runs to score their runs.
- WNE was led again by Riley Kane, who went 2-for-3, with a double for WNE in game two.
- Keira Quadros earned the win for RWU with seven innings pitched, letting up six hits and two earned runs, striking out four batters.
Up Next:
The Golden Bears will turn their attention to the Bison of Nichols College for their next doubleheader on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM. Those games will be played at Golden Bear Softball Park.
