BRIGHTON, Mass. – Returning the diamond for the first time in week, Simmons softball (6-6) climbed back to .500 on the season with a double-header sweep of non-conference Wellesley College (0-2), Friday afternoon.
Junior Jordyn Rubin utilized the spacious room in right field to her advantageous registering three triples on the afternoon, while driving in four base runners. First-year right-hander Piper Kinney picked up her first win of the season in a 10-2 win in game two, tossing five innings allowing just one earned run on five hits.
GAME 1: SIMMONS 6, WELLESLEY 3
The Shark bats came out early, putting up a crooked number four in the home half of the first inning. Sophomore Raya Anderson opened with a lead-off walk before getting herself into scoring position, swiping second. Two batters later, Rubin pulled an RBI triple into right field to plate Anderson with the game's first run before scoring on a passed ball to take a 2-0 lead.
Simmons was not done yet and took advantage of Wellesley defensive lapses to push their lead to three. With a runner in scoring position and two outs, senior Emma Thacher lined a single back up the middle to bring first-year Teagan Buckley around from second base and cap off the four-run inning.
Wellesley cut the lead in half, grabbing a pair in the top of the second, but were unable to pull any closer. Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego escaped runners on second and third and only one out jam. She set down Elli DeCleene on strikes, before getting Andrea Delgado to fly out to centerfield to minimize the damage.
The Sharks got a run back in the bottom of the second. Rubin ripped a two-out triple into centerfield to plate Anderson and take a 5-3 lead and it was more than enough for Castigliego. The Rhode Island native improved to 4-4 on the season allowing just three runs in seven innings, whiling striking out five.
GAME 2: SIMMONS 10, WELLESLEY 2
Making just her second start of her collegiate career, first-year right-hander Piper Kinney retired the side in order in the top of the first inning. The Shark bats quickly went to work in the home half to give their starting pitcher an early lead.
First-year Leah Connor roped a double into left field then scampered 60 feet on a passed ball. The Colorado native came in to score the first run of game two on a base-hit through the right side off the bat of Rubin.
Kinney kept the Blue off balance and off of the scoreboard for the first three innings which included escaping an early jam in the top of the second. Facing the bases loaded and only one out it appeared as though Wellesley was going to tie the game. But looks can be deceiving. Kinney got Maggie Abernathy to pop out to second, then caught DeCleene gazing at strike three to end the threat.
Two innings later in the home half of the third, the Sharks sent 11 batters to plate to put up a crooked number six and give Kinney a seven-run cushion. The Blue broke up the shutout pushing across a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, but the Sharks grabbed those two runs back in the home half to go back on top by seven.
Simmons sealed the game in the bottom of the fifth. McMahon lined an opposite field triple into right center then came into score the 10th run on a single down the left field line by Castigliego.
SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS
- First-year right-hander Piper Kinney earned her first collegiate victory in game two, tossing five innings allowing just one earned run on five hits.
- Junior Jordyn Rubin went 5-for-8 with three triples and four RBI on the day.
- Senior backstop Shannon McMahon went 3-for-6 with a triple, RBI, two walks and a run scored.
- Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego earned her fourth win of the season, tossing a complete game, seven innings allowing just three runs and striking out five in game one.
UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Wednesday, March 22 traveling to Rhode Island College for a double-header. First pitch at 4 p.m.