WORCESTER, Mass., April 15, 2006 - Springfield College sophomore Denise Fumicello (Brockton, Mass.) amassed five runs and five hits during an impressive doubleheader softball sweep at WPI on Saturday afternoon. The Pride took game one, 2-0, before tallying 18 hits in an 8-1 victory in the nightcap.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Blackman (Stamford, Conn.) was masterful in the circle in the opener. Blackman (8-8) allowed just three hits and did not walk a batter while notching her third shutout of the season. She set down the Engineers in order in five of the seven innings and only faced a real threat in the third when WPI left the bases loaded. Senior shortstop Caitlin McGaughey (South Windsor, Conn.) recorded seven assists in the victory.

Fumicello provided the Pride all the scoring they would need with runs on RBI groundouts in the fifth and seventh innings by senior Amanda Johansson (Leominster, Mass.) and senior Sarah Bagierek (Douglas, Mich.) respectively.

Meghan Kelly (Burlington, Mass.) absorbed the loss for WPI despite pitching well. She dropped to 9-5 on the season after allowing two runs on five hits and fanning four.

In game two, Springfield’s first two batters in the lineup, Fumicello and freshman Angela Atkins (East Haddam, Conn.), combined for seven hits and six runs scored, while Johansson collected three RBIs and Bagierek notched three singles. Senior Keri Stanford (Melrose, Mass.) and sophomore Lauren D’Arrigo (Lexington, Mass.) both added a pair of hits.

Freshman Samantha Rhodes (Mendon, Mass.) went the distance to improve to 7-3. She allowed one run while scattering three hits.

Jennifer Parker (Rochester, Mass.) took the loss in the nightcap for WPI, dropping to 4-2 on the season. The lone Engineer run came in the fifth inning when Ashley Kingman (Charlton, Mass.) singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, advanced to third on a Nicole DeCampo (Stoneham, Mass.) groundout, and scored on another wild pitch.

With the sweep, Springfield improves to 17-16 overall and 7-5 in NEWMAC play. The Pride next hosts local non-conference rival, Western New England College (WNEC), Wednesday afternoon (April 19) at 3:30 p.m.

published: 04/17/2006