Providence, R.I.--Freshman left fielder Sarah Mickelson (New Milford, Conn.) hit a walk-off single in the button of the seventh inning in game one and gave the Rhode Island College softball team a 4-3 victory over Bridgewater State in the Anchorwomen's season-opener at the Dayan Bazar Softball Complex on Friday afternoon.
 
THE BASICS
Rhode Island College 4, 11; Bridgewater State 3, 12
Rhode Island College (1-1)
Bridgewater State (6-4)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE
• RIC picked up two runs on a couple of Bear throwing errors in the second inning.
 
• The score stayed the same until the bottom of the sixth when freshman shortstop Amanda Conti (Lincoln, R.I.) singled in an insurance run to give RIC a 3-0 advantage.
 
• In the top of the seventh, BSU tied the game up with a three-run blast by graduate outfielder Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.).
 
• RIC stopped the bleeding and went into the bottom of the inning tied, 3-3. The hosts put runners on second and third with one out and Mickelson placed a perfect hit into right field to allow the Anchorwomen to walk-off with the game one victory, 4-3;
 
• Sophomore reliever Tatiana Burcy (Boston, Mass.) got the hosts out of the seventh-inning jam and earned the win (1-0).
 
• BSU senior pitcher Laura Hatch (Middleboro, Mass.) suffered the loss (1-2).
 
• RIC Head Coach Mary Holt-Kelsh picked up her first win as a collegiate head coach.
 
GAME TWO
• RIC scored the first four runs of the game through the first two innings. BSU struck back with five of its own in the top of the third to pull ahead, 5-4.
 
• The Anchorwomen took the lead right back, scoring four runs in the fourth inning, to give them  a three-run, 8-5, advantage. Sophomore first baseman Katelyn Ashe (Colchester, Conn.) had the highlight hit of the inning with a two-run double.
 
• Both teams' offenses continued to shine until the final out. BSU led 12-11 in the bottom of the seventh as the hosts loaded the bases with one down. Junior second baseman Alexis LeBelle (Warwick, R.I.) lined into a double play to close the book on another potential walk-off bid.
 
• BSU freshman pitcher McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) earned the win (1-0) in relief. Sophomore pitcher Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) was credited with the save.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
• Mickelson ended the day going 4-for-9, to go along with two runs scored, four RBI and a double.
 
• Ruprecht was 3-for-6 with three runs scored, six RBI and two crucial homers.
 
 WHAT'S NEXT
In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will host Clark on Sunday, March 20 (1 p.m.).