WILLIMANTIC, Conn. (April 29, 2026) – The Golden Bears charged to a nonconference sweep versus the Warriors of Eastern Connecticut State University on Wednesday.
Riley Kane led WNE to a game one, 3-0 win in the pitching circle and at the plate. Then, a wild nine-inning game two saw the Golden Bears earn the win in the final inning, with
Brianna Cardona slamming the door shut with a final-batter strikeout to earn the 13-10 win.
Game One:
Score:
- Western New England: 3
- Eastern Connecticut State University: 0
How it Happened:
First Inning:
- The Golden Bears got the contest started quickly in the first inning, as Riley Kane launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence, scoring Katherine Brooks with the hit. WNE led 2-0 in the top of the first.
- Kane turned around and sat the Warriors down one, two, three to start her outing in the pitching circle.
Second and Third Innings:
- The second and third innings saw only one batter get on base from either team. It was the Warriors getting a runner on via a walk. Both Kane and Jordan Bennett picked up strikeouts in those innings.
Fourth Inning:
- The fourth saw two Golden Bears get on base before Bennett was able to close the door and end the WNE threat in the fourth.
- The Warriors collected their first hit of the contest in the bottom of the inning. However, Kane was able to shut them down before giving up a run.
Fifth Inning:
- Kane gave herself some more room in the pitching circle in the top of the fifth, hitting a two-out double in the top of the fifth, scoring Marley Rodriguez, and WNE had a 3-0 lead. Kane would give up a hit in the bottom of the inning, but would strike out the final batter to keep the lead at three.
Sixth Inning:
- The sixth saw a lone double from Katelyn Bailey be the only hit from either team, and the Golden Bears took a three-run lead into the final inning.
Seventh Inning:
- The final inning saw Bennett sit the Golden Bears in order to set up a potential bottom of the seventh comeback. Instead, Kane sat the Warriors down in order as well and secured a 3-0 complete game shutout win.
Inside the Diamond:
- The Golden Bears took game one, 3-0.
- Riley Kane led the Golden Bears from both the offensive and defensive sides. Kane went 2-for-3, with a home run, a double, and all three RBIs.
- Kane pitched all seven innings, striking out four batters, only letting up two hits, and no runs to earn the complete game shutout win.
- Evelyn Picone and Katelyn Bailey both went 2-for-3, with both hitting doubles in game one.
- The Warriors' two hits came from Kaley Laird and Lily Kenefick.
Game Two:
Score: Final/9
- Western New England: 13
- Eastern Connecticut State University: 10
How it Happened:
First Inning:
- The Golden Bears threatened early in game two, with two runners getting on base, but Leah Chatfield would keep them scoreless in the opening inning. Kaylin Heffern would then start the game with a one, two, three inning versus the Warriors.
Second Inning:
- Both teams got a runner on base in the second inning, but once again, neither team could find the opening run.
Third Inning:
- The run-scoring picked up in the third as Payton McDaniel would double for the Golden Bears, scoring Riley Kane and Marley Rodriguez. WNE took a 2-0 lead.
- A lead that was short-lived, as Grace Jenkins hit a triple with one out in the third. Lily Kenefick scored, and then Jenkins scored thanks to a Maddy Bowen two-out single. The score was stuck at two after the third.
Fourth Inning:
- WNE earned their lead back in the fourth thanks to a 2-out double from Marley Rodriguez that brought Ava Barnhart home.
- The Warriors would get two runners on base with only one out, but Kaylin Heffern did a good job dealing with the situation and holding the Golden Bear lead at 3-2.
Fifth Inning:
- WNE extended their lead to three in the top of the fifth inning. A pitching change saw Julia Raymond enter the game with the bases loaded and no outs.
- Olivia Lugo was hit by a pitch, which brought Keira Czarkowski home. Then, Ava Barnhart drew a walk to bring Payton McDaniel home. WNE led 5-2. Raymond would get out of the inning thanks to a fielder's choice out and a double play.
- It was the Warriors' chance to score in the bottom of the inning. Jenna Maus doubled to score Kaley Laird, and then a Leah Chatfield single scored Jordan Bennett. WNE's lead was cut to 5-4 by the end of the fifth inning.
Sixth Inning:
- WNE got two more runs back in the top of the sixth thanks to back-to-back hits from Payton McDaniel and Katelyn Bailey, who hit into a fielder's choice and slapped a single, respectively. Katherine Brooks and Mia Marigliano both scored, and WNE led 7-4.
- Sophia Keays, who had entered in the bottom of the fifth, would face four batters and get three outs to move the contest to the seventh inning.
Seventh Inning:
- Payton McDaniel would give WNE an insurance run in the top of the inning. A single brought Katherine Brooks home, and WNE led 8-4.
- That run proved vital as Sam Healy hit a no-out grand slam to tie the game at eight and send the contest to extra innings after Brianna Cardona entered the game and got WNE out of the inning with a strikeout, with two outs and the bases loaded.
Eighth Inning:
- With the runner being placed on second to start the eighth, both teams would drive that runner home. WNE did so via a Marley Rodriguez double, scoring Katelyn Bailey.
- Leah Chatfield reached first base on a fielder's choice, where Maddy Bowen scored. The score was 9-9 after eight.
Ninth Inning:
- The ninth saw the Golden Bears surge to an extra-inning victory. It started with a Katelyn Bailey single to score Katherine Brooks. Then, Riley Kane scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat. WNE led 11-9.
- Finally, a Shea McDaniel single scored Katelyn Bailey and Payton McDaniel. WNE's lead was 13-9.
- Kailey Laird would single for the Warriors to cut the WNE lead to 13-10, but they would not make up the four runs this time. Brianna Cardona struck out the final batter, and WNE had a nonconference sweep after nine innings of game two.
Inside the Diamond:
- WNE swept ECSU after a game two win, 13-10, in nine innings.
- Payton McDaniel went 3-for-5 to lead WNE to the win, with a walk, four RBIs, and a double.
- Three other Golden Bears had multi-hit games as Marley Rodriguez, Riley Kane, and Katelyn Bailey all had two hits.
- Rodriguez had a double, and Ava Barnhart also recorded an extra-base hit in game two. A double.
- Leah Chatfield led the Warriors in game two, going 3-for-4, with two RBIs, a walk, and a double. Jenna Maus, Grace Jenkins, and Kaley Laird all had extra-base hits.
- Sam Healy had a grand slam for the Warriors in the 13-10 loss.
- Brianna Cardona earned the win for WNE, pitching three innings, letting up no earned runs, three hits, and striking out four batters.
Up Next:
WNE will end their regular season in Boston, Massachusetts, as they will travel to the Suffolk University Rams on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at noon and 2:00 PM.
