Softball: Varricchio, Rieger Help Eagles Earn Split With Johnson & Wales
- Courtesy Johnson & Wales Sports Information -
East Providence, R.I. -- The Johnson & Wales University softball team split a non-conference double header with Daniel Webster at Pierce Field on Wednesday afternoon. JWU posted a 7-0 shut out win in the opener before Daniel Webster responded with a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
Johnson & Wales took the early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when senior Liana Rivera (Queens, N.Y.) walked and later scored on an RBI single by sophomore Lauren Lomonaco (Southampton, N.J.).
The Wildcats extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single by sophomore Amy Fish (Oxford, Mass.). Rivera later scored on a wild pitch to put JWU up 3-0. After freshman Rachel Marino (Northbridge, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk, the squad took the 4-0 advantage on an RBI single by sophomore Olivia England (Natick, Mass.).
JWU then tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth en route to the 7-0 victory. Marino notched the complete-game shutout for the Wildcats, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts. Fish was 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI while Lomonaco went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the win.
In the nightcap, Daniel Webster jumped out to a 1-0 lead on an RBI single by freshman Chelsey Crawford (Westfield, Mass.) in the top of the first inning.
The visiting Eagles took the 2-0 advantage in the top of the third on another unearned run. An RBI single by junior Amanda Varricchio (Middletown, Conn.) made the score 3-0 in the fourth before Daniel Webster took the 4-0 lead in the fifth when freshman Kayla Palaschak (East Bridgewater, Mass.) drew a bases loaded walk.
Johnson & Wales chipped away in the bottom of the sixth when sophomore Kori Bailey (Pelham, N.H.) scored on a sacrifice fly by Lomonaco. That would be all the scoring for the day, however as DWC held on for the 4-1 victory.
Varricchio was 3-for-4 with an RBI in the win for Daniel Webster. Senior Kristina Rieger (Concord, N.H.) notched the complete game victory for the Eagles, allowing one run on six hits with five strikeouts. Fish was 2-for-2 in the setback for JWU.
With the split Johnson & Wales is now 4-22 overall while Daniel Webster is 5-8 for the season. The Wildcats will return to action on Friday, April 9th when they travel to Lasell for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference twin bill starting at 3:00 p.m.
