Regina bats bombard Wheaton Academy in doubleheader

Regina came out swinging its bats Saturday afternoon against Wheaton Academy and the Panthers never seemed to stop in registering a 14-4, 14-9 doubleheader sweep at Techny Park.

Regina (6-6) center fielder Audrey Jahns led off the Panthers onslaught in the bottom of the first by blasting a home run over the center field fence. It would be one of five Panther home runs in Game 1, which also included a three-run shot by Jahns, who had five RBI.

“It was a great start to the game,” Jahns said. “The whole team has been hitting well.”

The contest was quite close throughout, with Wheaton Academy (1-3) trailing only 5-4 entering the bottom of the sixth. But Regina sent 10 batters to the plate and plated nine runs to end the game. In addition to Jahn’s three-run shot, catcher Dani Devlin knocked her second solo shot out of the park, and third baseman Emily Herberg had a two-run round-tripper.

Devlin, who will play at Miami-Ohio next year, was 4-5 in the contest. Panthers first baseman Maddi MacBain had four singles and one RBI in her four trips to the plate.

“We were hitting the ball hard everywhere,” Regina coach Paul Gagliano said. “Even in our losses we’ve been hitting.”

Panthers starter Niki Richards picked up her second win of the season. Wheaton Academy shortstop Marissa Gagliano was 2-for-3, including the 100th-career hit for the junior. Warriors catcher Jess Voss had two RBI.

Game 2 featured both benches in starting roles for the most part, with the Warriors scoring seven times in the top of the first. The key blows were two-run singles by first baseman Mason Elliott and second baseman Giselle Rocha. But Regina fought back with three in the first, then four in the second and five in the third to build a 12-8 lead.

Regina catcher Katie Bjerkness was 3-for-5 in the second game with five RBI, including a three-run blast to right center. Panthers third baseman Claire Broderick went 3-for-3 with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored. Elliott finished 4-for-4 at the plate for Wheaton Academy. The victory went to Regina starter Karlyn Manley.

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