BRIGHTON, Mass. – Sophomore right-handers Ally Hyde and Piper Kinney combined to strikeout 15 opposing batters in Sunday afternoon's twin-bill against non-conference Rhode Island College (4-2). 

GAME 1: RIC 4, SIMMONS 0

In game-one against RIC, sophomore right-hander Piper Kinney escaped an early jam. RIC was threatening to score first with runners at the corners and zero outs, but Kinney quieted it down retiring the next three batters by way of the strikeout.

Kinney set down the next six opposing hitters in order until giving up a lead-off triple to open the third inning. Once again RIC appeared poised to score, but looks can be deceiving. Defending her position, Kinney snagged a comebacker out of the air then quickly fired to third for the double play.   

While Kinney was pitching masterfully for the Sharks, RIC starter Abby Kidd was able to keep the Simmons bats at bay. In the home half of the third, junior centerfielder Raya Anderson worked a two-out walk, despite being down 0-2 in the count, then attempted to spark the Shark offense with a steal of second. But it did not last for very long.

RIC managed to get to Kinney in the top of the fifth, pushing across four runs. It was plenty of support for Kidd, who picked up her third win of the season.

GAME 2: RIC 9, SIMMONS 1

RIC jumped out to quick lead in the second game of the twin-billing, putting up crooked number five in the top of the first. But in the home half it looked as if the Sharks offense was going to get those runs right back.

Anderson opened the bottom of the first, lining a triple over the right fielder's head. Moments later, Kinney took a 1-1 pitch into left field to bring home Anderson with the Sharks first run. Fellow sophomore Teagan Buckley pulled a pitch through the left side of the RIC infield. Just like that the Sharks had runners at first and second and no outs as the heart of the batting order stepped to the plate.

The Sharks showed aggressiveness on the base paths early on. After senior right fielder grounded into a fielder's choice, Buckley attempted to go from second to third on the play, but it was sniffed out by the RIC defense for the second out of the frame. RIC was able to minimize the damage and get out of the inning with allowing just one run.

Sophomore right-hander Ally Hyde kept the Sharks in the ballgame, allowing just one run over the next five innings. In seven innings of work, Hyde struck out eight opposing batters while allowing just three earned runs on five hits.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Sophomore Ally Hyde registered eight strikeouts, while walking one in seven innings of work in game two.
• Sophomore Piper Kinney fanned seven RIC batters, including getting out of an early first inning jam, by striking out the final three batters.
• Junior centerfielder Raya Anderson went two-for-five at the plate with a triple, two walks, and a run scored while also swiping three bags. 

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 20 for a midweek non-conference game against Eastern Nazarene. First pitch at 5 p.m.