The softball team (14-15, 2-6 Ivy) run-ruled Providence College (13-20) Wednesday after only five innings, but the Bears were shut out in the second game and lost, 4-0.
Brown 11, PC 3
Providence College started the game off aggressively on offense, scoring one run in the top of the first, but the Bears responded with two runs of their own.
Leadoff hitter Katie Rothamel '10 hit a double and then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from right fielder Andrea Browne '10. Both first baseman Kate Strobel '12 and third baseman Stephanie Thompson '13 were hit by pitches, loading the bases. Catcher Amanda Asay '10 then hit a single, but Rothamel was thrown out at home plate.
With the bases loaded, designated hitter Alyssa Caplan '13 hit a double for two RBI, giving Brown a 2-1 lead.
"It was the kind of pitcher we easily adjusted to," Asay said. "And defensively we were steady as well."
PC tied up the game with another run in the second. But the Bears responded quickly and started the second with a double from pitcher Kristie Chin '11, who then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt from left fielder Sandra Mastrangelo '12. Second baseman and Herald Sports Staff Writer Erika Mueller '13 was hit by a pitch and then advanced to second when Rothamel hit a single that brought home Chin. Browne hit a single to left field to load the bases.
With two outs and the bases loaded, PC's pitcher, Danielle Bertolette, walked two Bears, allowing Brown to score two more runs and extend its lead, 5-2. Bertolette was relieved by Kathryn Sullivan.
"We were the most focused for a Brown team since I've been here," said Head Coach DeeDee Enabenter-Omidiji. "Everyone looked good in batting practice."
The Friars only managed to score one more run the entire game and could not stop Brown's offense. In the fourth inning, Thompson hit a double, and then Strobel hit a home run, making the score 7-3.
A grand slam from Asay in the bottom of the fifth led to Brown's resounding victory and ended the game under the mercy rule.
"It's a nice way to end the game," Asay said.
PC 4, Brown 0
In the second game, the Friars managed to completely shut down the Bears, both offensively and defensively.
Neither team scored in the first four innings. The game was a pitcher's duel between Liz DiMascio '13 and the Friars' Corinne Clauss.
"Through the first four innings, it was going back and forth," Enabenter-Omidiji said. "But then the defense started falling apart, and the offense feels the pressure." The team was unable to score due to this pressure, according to Enabenter-Omidiji.
The defensive trouble started in the fifth. With two outs, DiMascio gave up a walk. Jen Abrams hit the ball right to Rothamel at shortstop, but Rothamel bobbled the ball and was unable to make the play at second. Frazzled, DiMascio hit the next batter with a pitch. With the bases loaded, Justine Stratton hit a fly ball that Rothamel, Mastrangelo, and center fielder Avery Silverstein '13 all ran towards and allowed to drop between them.
"We didn't move our feet the way we needed to," Enabenter-Omidiji said. "We need to be more aggressive in the outfield. Even if you just give an effort, your pitcher will be energized."
PC continued to capitalize on Brown's errors in the sixth inning. After the Friars hit a double and a single, Strobel could not field a ground ball that went right to first base, allowing the runner on third to score and the runner on second to advance.
The runner on first stole second but advanced to third on an overthrown ball from Asay to second base. The runner that had been on third also scored.
"In the beginning of the season, we played better in the second game," Asay said. "But now, we're hesitant. We need to somehow find that aggression from the beginning of the season."
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