Lions, Clippers earn softball wins

Bella DiOrio and Syndey Provencal pitched well to lead their squads to Division I softball victories

CUMBERLAND — The indestructible force is ready for the immovable object.

The Cumberland softball team delivered its fourth mercy-rule performance in the last five games, as junior centerfielder Sam Jalbert had three hits and three runs scored and Kat Kent had two hits and four RBIs to lead the Clippers to a 10-0 five-inning victory over Bay View Wednesday afternoon at Tucker Field.

Cumberland (11-2 Division I-North) will face its toughest test of the season Thursday, when UMass-bound fireballer Kiara Oliver brings undefeated North Kingstown to Tucker Field for the biggest Division I regular-season contest so far.

“Let’s see where we’re at tomorrow facing arguably the best pitcher in the state. It’s a big test for us,” Cumberland coach Marty Crowley said. “We feel good about throwing Jocelyn (Bodington) tomorrow. She’s really improved her game since last year. They play a lot of smallball and we have to be ready to defend that.”

Wednesday, junior Sydney Provencal earned her third victory in the circle by holding the Bengals to just two hits in five innings. Provencal also added two hits and two RBIs. Junior third baseman Maddie Leite, who was a triple short of the cycle in each of the last two games, had a two-run triple in the second to help Cumberland open up a 7-0 lead.

DiOrio leads Lions to road victory

WESTERLY — Lincoln hurler Bella DiOrio struck out 11 batters and allowed just four hits and an earned run in a complete-game effort to lead the Lions to a 4-1 Division I crossover victory against Westerly Wednesday at Cimalore Field.

Lincoln (4-7 Division I-North) heads to Mount St. Charles Thursday afternoon looking to move out of the basement in the division.

The Lions scored all the runs they would need in the second inning on RBI hits by sophomore Julia Lombardi and freshman Grace Swanson.

Westerly grabbed a run back in the fifth inning, but freshman Riley Riendeau (3-for-4) and Lombardi added RBI hits in the seventh.