Warwick, RI – CMCC Softball got its spring season underway, making up its previously rained out series against Community College of Rhode Island. The Knights swept the Mustangs with 14-2 and 9-1 wins to take three of four games between the two teams this season.
Game One, 14-2 L
CCRI jumped out early in game one, batting around the order in the bottom of the first. Sophia Valentina drove in leadoff hitter Jayda Pequita with a double to left, before scoring on a double into center field by Crystyliah Covel. Lily Robitaille and Amanda Kelley each had RBI singles to make it 4-0 after one.
Valentina led off the second inning with a home run, ending the day for starting pitcher Melody Rousselle. Senior and utility player McKenna Ridlon came on in relief to finish out the game, allowing two more runs in the inning.
CMCC finally got its first baserunner in the top of the fourth. Shortstop and leadoff hitter Brook Norman started the inning by beating out a ground ball to third. She stole second to get into scoring position, avoiding a putout on a groundout by Vanessa St. Pierre. First baseman Olivia Rioux stepped up next, connecting on a pitch to launch a two-run home run over the left field fence. It was her second homer of the season to cut the deficit to 8-2.
The Knights quickly put to bed any thoughts of a comeback by scoring six times in the bottom half of the inning, batting around the order again. Valentini finished things off in the circle for CCRI with another one-two-three inning in the top of the fifth to end the game.
Game Two, 9-1 L
Rousselle gave it another go for CMCC, starting game two in the circle against Becca Hornung for CCRI. Both pitchers would go the distance with the game ending in five innings.
Central Maine put together some early hits but could not generate a run until the fourth inning. Meanwhile, the Knights picked up right where they left off, scoring four times in the bottom of the first. Clara Perez scored on a single by Hornung. Robitaille had a two-RBI double to center to make it 3-0 before crossing home plate herself on a single by Emma Gabrielson.
CCRI added two more in the second and another run in the third to lead 7-0. The top of the fourth was where The Mustangs' lone bright spot came from. Hailey Turcotte reached on a grounder to shortstop that resulted in an error. Stella Laubenstein came in for her as a pinch-runner, getting into scoring position via a passed ball. Laubenstein's fellow teammate from the women's basketball team, Kennedy Lampert, came through with an RBI single between third and short, sending Laubenstein racing around to score her first run.
The Knights scored a run themselves in the bottom half of the inning. That set them up with a chance to end the game early after the Mustangs went down in order in the top of the fifth. With two outs, Hornung lined a double to left. Covel then brought her home with a lined shot into center, ending the game with an eight-run lead.
Central Maine next prepares for a return to Yankee Small College Conference play with a visit from UMaine-Augusta. Saturday's doubleheader against the Moose takes place during CMCC's spring open house. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 am.
