PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Simmons softball (7-7) split Wednesday afternoon's non-conference doubleheader against Rhode Island College (4-6).  

GAME 1: SIMMONS 5, RHODE ISLAND 4
Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego did not allow a solo homerun by the second batter in the bottom of the first inning to phase her. The reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Year settled down and kept the Anchorwomen off the board for the next three innings, giving the Shark bats a chance to heat up.

A second time through the order against Rhode Island's Sam Bergantino and clutch two-out hitting, Simmons put up a crooked number five in the top of the fourth inning. With the bases jammed, first-year Leah Connor ripped a two-out single into centerfielder to plate fellow first-years Emma Soule and Emery Kreidel-Reimer and take a 2-1 lead.

Junior Jordyn Rubin followed with an opposite field double to clear the bases and bring in Connor and sophomore Raya Anderson to make it a 4-1 ballgame and knocked Bergantino out of the game. Rubin came into score the eventual winning run on wild pitch by reliever Gabby Cunha.

Rhode Island answered scoring three runs against Castigliego in the home half of the frame, but was able to minimize the damage getting Katelyn Ashe to fly out to left field to end the threat. She finished the day, tossing a complete game seven innings and striking out eight Anchorwomen.

GAME 2: RHODE ISLAND 9, SIMMONS 1
The Anchorwomen took a quick 2-0 lead to begin game two of the twin-bill, scoring once in both the bottom of the first and second innings. Simmons first-year right-hander Piper Kinney was able to limit the damage to keep the Sharks within striking distance and cut the deficit in half. 

In the top of the third, the Sharks were able to push across a run thanks to more timely hitting two-out hitting. After a quick two outs to open the third, Anderson extended the inning with a bunt base-hit, before getting on her horse and scoring from first on a double to centerfield off the bat of Connor. 

Kinney managed to escape the bottom of the third unscathed to keep it a one run ball-game, but the Sharks were unable to string together more offense. Rhode Island added to their lead scoring three and four more runs in the fourth and fifth, respectively to seal the game.  

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior right-hander Maddie Castigliego improved to 5-4 on the season, tossing her sixth complete game of the season, allowing just one earned run on nine hits and striking out eight opposing batters.
• Sophomore Raya Anderson 3-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored.
• First-year Leah Connor was 3-for-5 from the top of the lineup with a double, RBI and a run scored on the day.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond on Saturday, March 25 when they travel to neighboring Wentworth Institute of Technology for a double-header. First pitch at noon.