Warwick Vets cruised by North Providence 4-0 behind a complete-game shutout from Caitlyn Fallon. She ended the day with six strikeouts while surrendering just four hits and no runs.

Warwick Vets head coach Paul Kennedy went with the Fallon over the Kayla Morin on Saturday.

“Right now we’re going with the hot hand,” Kennedy said. “Caitlyn Fallon is very hot right now. 3-0 in the playoffs, won her last game of the regular season. So, we’re going with the hot hand, but if I ever have to go to Kayla Morin, no hesitation at all.”

Vets went up early and never looked back.

Morin led off in the batter’s box for Warwick and she faced North Providence junior pitcher Arielle Lacroix. Lacroix won the first battle, getting Morin to ground out to the third baseman Vanessa Arenas. Alexis LeBelle, then stepped up and smacked a hit through first and second. Then, Natasha Savage got on base with a laser to short. With runners at first and second, Michelle Spremulli smashed an RBI single, scoring LeBelle while giving Vets an early 1-0 lead. Then, Fallon notched a hit, scoring Savage. Spremulli came trotting home shortly after, due to a throwing error that sailed over the third baseman’s head. Warwick took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the first, where Fallon came out strong. She struck out Woonsocket’s leadoff hitter Kayla Prior. Kaitlyn Manchester earned a walk next. Then, Jessica Rizzo hit into a fielder’s choice, outing the runner at second. While Lacroix was up at the plate, Rizzo swiped second. It proved to be a wasted effort though, because Fallon would strike out Lacroix before catching Rizzo in a pickle between second and third for the final out of the first inning.

Lacroix didn’t need many pitches in the second inning. She got Mackenzie Hough out on a bunt and followed it with a strikeout of Mallorie Link. After, Morin came through with a single, Lacroix was able to strand the runner when she got LeBelle to ground out.

In the bottom of the second, Lacroix hit a single. After Fallon got Tamale Santana to fly out to right, she threw a wild pitch to Caitlynn Douglas. The runner took off and stole on the miscue. Fallon induced Douglas into a ground ball out, but Lacroix would move to third on the play. Next, Fallon walked Arenas. With two outs and runners at the corners, Ashley Verduchi came up to the plate. Fallon threw gas and struck her out to end the inning.

Later, in the fifth, Lacroix remained in the circle for North Providence. She faced Morin, who lifted a double to center to lead off the inning. Next, LeBelle earned a walk. With one out, Kelly Stevenson hit an RBI single, scoring Destinee Charette, who was pinch-running for Morin. That gave Warwick a 4-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Fallon got two quick outs before hitting a roadblock against Prior, who notched a double. Prior stole third before Fallon walked Manchester. With runners at the corners, Fallon was able to get out of the inning again. This time, Fallon got Rizzo to ground out to end the threat.

Fallon got in and out of trouble again in the bottom of the sixth. North Providence had runners at first and second with one out when Fallon came through with back-to-back strikeouts. Fallon would earn one more strikeout while closing out the game in the seventh inning.

“We’ve done that a couple times this year where they get some runners on and Caitlyn slams the door and she did it today,” Kennedy said.

The Warwick coach was very happy with the defensive play of his team against top-seeded North Providence.

“They were the best team,” Kennedy said. “They were the No. 1 seed. We came out and took it to them early. . .  I’m most happy about that last column – no errors. That’s our kind of ball. Our defense and our pitching was fantastic. I couldn’t be happier or more proud of these girls.”

With this kind of pitching, Warwick could be a very tough out in this tournament. The ‘Canes were scheduled to play Woonsocket (11-5) in the winner’s bracket final on Monday evening at 5 p.m., but results were unavailable at press time.