WALTHAM, Mass. – Saint Anselm softball picked up a pair of wins in their first taste of Northeast-10 (NE10) action, defeating Bentley in two high-scoring games. The Hawks secured game one early, 11-3 after five innings, and claimed game two in extra innings, 8-6 after nine innings.

UP NEXT:

• Softball will be back in action tomorrow, April 2nd, with a double-header against Assumption starting at 2:00 PM. 

GAME 1

Score: Saint Anselm 11, Bentley 3 (5 inn.)

Win: Ryan (8-1) Loss: Piromalli (4-7)

Records: Saint Anselm 12-6 (1-0); Bentley 9-10 (0-1)

Location: Waltham, Mass. 

Date: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 1):

• The Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the first inning, with sophomore Brooke Tardugno (Methuen, Mass.) scoring the game's opening run. Senior Alyssa Wironen (Leominster, Mass.) then extended the lead with a three-run homer over the left-field wall, putting Saint Anselm up 4-0.

• The Falcons responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double by Jordan Krause, who later scored on an error to cut the deficit in half.

• Both teams added a run in the third inning. A sacrifice fly by freshman Katie Fox (Dracut, Mass.) brought home senior Audrey Arsenault (Stow, Mass.), while Kim Saunders answered with an RBI double for Bentley to keep the lead at two runs.

• The Hawks broke the game open in the fourth, starting with a bases-loaded walk by Arsenault. Junior Rose Reitmeyer (Oxford, Conn.) followed with a grand slam over the left-center field wall, capping a five-run inning and pushing the lead to 10-3.

• Saint Anselm added another run in the fifth when Brooke Tardugno, who drew a two-out walk, scored on a double by Arsenault.

• Senior Sophia DiPippo (Cranston, R.I.) sealed the win, closing out the game with a scoreless fifth inning, finishing the Hawks early victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 1): 

• This marked the 53rd meeting between the two programs, with Saint Anselm improving to 40-12-1 in the all-time series. The win marked the second straight in the series for the Hawks. 

• Sophomore Sam Ryan (Tewksbury, Mass.) secured the win, pitching four innings with two earned runs. Her eight wins this season are tied for first in the NE10. 

• Audrey Arsenault ended with two hits, two walks, two runs, and three RBI's. 

• Rose Reitmeyer had a grand slam in the win, her second homer of the season and seventh of her career. 

• Also homering was Alyssa Wironen, her first of the season. 

• The Hawks only got four hits in the game, but were able to draw 7 walks. Wironen also got on base twice via two hits by pitches. 

GAME 2

Score: Saint Anselm 8, Bentley 6 (9 inn.)

Win: DiPippo (2-2) Loss: Saunders (1-1) 

Records: Saint Anselm 13-6 (2-0); Bentley 9-11 (0-2) 

Location: Waltham, Mass.

Date: Tuesday, April 1st, 2025

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME 2):

• Senior Sam Wiberg (Exeter, N.H.) led off the game with a single and later scored the game's first run on an RBI double from junior Rose Reitmeyer (Oxford, Conn.).

• Jordan Krause responded in the bottom of the inning for Bentley, driving in two runs with a double to give the Falcons an early lead.

• The Hawks answered in the top of the second with a pair of doubles from sophomore Sarah Cipriani (Woodbury, Conn.) and junior Lily Mason (Derry, N.H.). Cipriani scored the tying run on Mason's double.

• In the third inning, sophomore Brooke Tardugno (Methuen, Mass.) singled to start the frame, stole second, and scored on a double by senior Audrey Arsenault (Stow, Mass.). Arsenault crossed the plate later in the inning when senior Alyssa Wironen (Leominster, Mass.) homered for the second consecutive game.

• After two scoreless innings, Saint Anselm added an insurance run in the sixth. Brooke Tardugno singled, once again stole second, and scored on a double from Reitmeyer, extending the lead to 6-2.

• Bentley fought back with the game on the line, scoring a run on an error before an RBI single from Kim Saunders cut the deficit to two. Becca Harris then delivered an RBI single to make it a one-run game, and a bases-loaded walk to Ava Lanza tied the game, forcing extra innings.

• After a scoreless eighth, Arsenault led off the ninth with a double, followed by a single from Wironen to put two runners on. Arsenault and freshman Katie Fox (Dracut, Mass.), who entered as a pinch runner, both scored on a single by freshman Zaynah Wotkowicz (Hampton Falls, N.H.), giving the Hawks an 8-6 lead.

• Senior Sophia DiPippo (Cranston, R.I.) retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the sweep for Saint Anselm.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GAME 2): 

• This marked the 54th meeting between the two programs, with Saint Anselm improving to 41-12-1 in the all-time series. It was their third straight win in the series and their seventh in the last ten meetings.

• Sophia DiPippo earned the win, pitching 8.2 innings with two earned runs and two strikeouts.

• Brooke Tardugno recorded two hits, scored twice, and stole two bases. Her three stolen bases in the doubleheader brought her season total to 16, which ranks third in the NE10. Audrey Arsenault continues to lead the team with 20 stolen bases, second in the NE10.

• Alyssa Wironen homered for the second time on the day, moving her into a tie with Rose Reitmeyer for the team lead. Wironen now has eight career home runs.

• Reitmeyer recorded three hits, driving in two runs.

• Sarah Cipriani also tallied three hits, marking the first three-hit game of her career.

• Zaynah Wotkowicz drove in the two go-ahead runs, the first RBIs of her career.

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