Kaicie Boeglin
Opinions Editor
The Gold squad dominated over Maroon 8-3 in a Rhode Island College softball exhibition game. The game which took place Friday afternoon at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex demonstrated the sportsmanship and competitive spirit the softball team still has during the pandemic. That game was the conclusion to the RIC centered sports exhibition, which ran from October 26 to November 6, 2020. In adherence with Rhode Island Department of Health (RIIDOH) guidelines, RIC mandated all players wear masks and fan attendance to be limited to two guests per athlete. The college maintained social distance restrictions by splitting the roster for RIC’s softball team in half, negating the need for another institution’s team. One of the pitchers told announcers “we’re a team all day everyday, but don’t let the masks fool you. On the field the game faces are on.”
The Gold squad earned eight runs and 10 hits with no errors; the Maroon squad received three runs, nine hits, and no errors. Gold remained unbeatable due to freshman first baseman Kate Ashe going 3-for-4 scoring three runs, a walk and a run batted in (RBI); as well as freshman catcher Alexis Boyce who went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles and a pair of RBI. Maroon was carried by junior right fielder Erica Fluskey, who went 3-for-3 consisting of a double and two runs scored. Sophomore second baseman Reilly Clancey also contributed to the help by going 2-for-3 with a double, then a triple and ending with an RBI.
Gold member Katrina Kazena, a sophomore third baseman, led off the game with a double; then scored on a ferocious pitch within the top of the first half to give Gold a 1-0 advantage. A sacrifice fly allowed Maroon to even the game in the bottom of the second inning. Gold earned three runs in the third inning as Kazen singled in a run, and sophomore right fielder Shannon McDonald scored a run by a fielder’s choice. The bottom of the third inning took Maroon halfway from a tie with an RBI on behalf of senior first baseman Amber Wainwright, putting the game 4-2.
The fourth inning had Gold scoring two more runs on catchers Boyce and McDonald with an RBI double and an RBI groundout. In the fifth, Ashe managed an RBI single, allowing Boyce to double among another run putting Gold over by six, 8-2. The final run of the game, scored by Maroon’s sophomore second baseman Reilly Clancey, allowed for an RBI triple in the sixth frame.
The fair game was prompted by RIC’s use of the same three pitchers for both teams. Both Gold and Maroon squads played competitively against one another, demonstrating the talent, competitiveness and overall great sportsmanship the RIC Softball team has as a whole. The communication on the field led by first baseman Ashe between members of the Gold team prompted their win. Maroon could have attained more runs if it weren’t for the speed and observancy of the Gold outfielders.