NEWPORT, R.I. (March 21, 2026) - Both Salve Regina University softball starting pitchers -- senior Caroline Peterson (Halifax, Mass.) and junior Shea Murphy (Westfield, N.J.) -- went the distance (seven innings) in their respective outings but the Seahawk hurlers were outdueled by their Bridgewater State University counterparts -- junior Olivia Hargreaves (Weare, N.H.) and junior Lily Gagnon (East Haven, Conn.) -- as the Bears swept a non-league doubleheader with a pair of 2-0 decisions at Toppa Field in sunny Newport, Rhode Island, on Saturday afternoon.

Seahawks (1-7, 0-0 NEWMAC) doubled up the hit totals of the Bears in both games, eight to four in the opener and four to two in the nightcap. Multi-hit games for three Seahawks in the opener -- Lillian Bridges (Wesley Chapel, Fla.), Emma Plourde (Stratham, N.H.), and Skylar Wicklund (Riverhead, N.Y.) -- while Gracie Keyes (Portsmouth, R.I.) pulled the feat in the nightcap.

Game 1
In the third inning, Bridgewater State broke through with two-out execution, as a triple by Angelina Lynch (Taunton, Mass.) set the table before Sydney Schaefer (Swarthmore, Pa.) delivered an RBI double to center for a 1–0 lead. Salve Regina responded with traffic—putting runners on the corners—but left them stranded. In the sixth inning, Bridgewater State added insurance, capitalizing on a two-out walk to Victoria Becker (Abington, Mass.) and aggressive baserunning before Olyvia Mendonca (Taunton, Mass.) lined an RBI single to extend the lead to 2–0. Salve Regina mounted another threat with two hits but stranded both runners.

Game 2
In the fourth inning, Bridgewater State capitalized on defensive miscues to break the deadlock. After a walk and an error put runners in scoring position, Aubrey Carberry (North Dartmouth, Mass.) singled to left, driving in two runs—one unearned—for a 2–0 advantage.

Salve Regina generated opportunities—12 combined hits—but struggled with situational hitting, leaving multiple runners in scoring position and failing to produce a run across 14 innings. The Bears improve to 8-4 on the season and 6-5 in the all-time series with the Seahawks.

The Seahawks return to Toppa Field on Sunday, March 22, with another non-league doubleheader, welcoming the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University for noon first pitch.