CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore
Taylor Massart's first career home run lifted the Gators past Wisconsin-Stout in the opening game of a split doubleheader, before the Gators saw Macalester use a four-run sixth inning to earn a 7-2 victory in the nightcap.
After the split, the Gators' record moves to 1-3 overall.
Trailing 2-1 after four innings in the opener, Massart sent a 2-0 pitch over the fence in straightaway center to push the Gators in front 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth. The Gators added a much-needed insurance tally in the bottom of the sixth, then held off a late Stout rally, as the Blue Devils scored two runs in their last at bats before Allegheny hurler
Caitlin Nealer induced a game-ending groundout with two runners on.
Nealer went the distance in the circle for the Gators, and shrugged off a sluggish start to record the complete game win. The senior allowed four runs (three earns), scattering six hits and striking out five, throwing 86 of 130 pitches for strikes.
Offensively, seven Gators recorded at least one hit on the day, as the team finished with a total of nine. The junior tandem of
Allie Landowski and
Belle Mazurik each had two hits, while Nealer, Massart, and
Sadie Stuart each had one hit and scored one run apiece.
The Blue Devils scored single runs in both the first and third innings to take a 2-0 lead, before the Gators countered to finally find the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Landowski singled through the left side, before
Abrianna Sadler reached on an error, putting runners at first and second.
Hannah Blinn then followed with a double to the fence in center. Landowski scored, but Sadler was cut down on a relay at the plate, keeping the score at 2-1 after four.
In the fateful bottom of the fifth, the Gators did all of their damage after making two quick outs. Nealer and Stuart each singled, before Massart's big bomb to center.
Allegheny added one more run in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Blinn walked, and gave way on the basepaths to pinch runner
Leah Herlocker. Mazurik then followed with a double to the gap in left center, bringing home Herlocker and making the score 5-2.
In the top of the seventh, three straight batters reached with one out for Stout, highlighted by a two-run double by Sara Greisbach to make it a 5-4 game. However, Nealer got back-to-back groundouts to end the threat, and seal the victory.
The Wisconsin-Stout offense was led by Taylor Workman, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Lyndzi Knutsen finished with two hits, while Toni Workman took the loss in the circle, working two innings and allowing four runs on four hits in relief of starter Beth Wood.
In game two, the Gators, playing as the visiting team, wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. Mazurik led off the game with a walk, and then advanced all the way to third on a husting, heads up play after a
Jaricka Simmerman bunt. Nealer followed with a grounder to short, scoring Mazurik and making the score 1-0.
Macalester scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take its first lead of the game, 2-1, but the Gators answered back to tie things up in the visiting half of the third, using a similar recipe as two innings before. Mazurik led off with a single, stole second base, and moved to third on a Simmerman sacrifice bunt. For the second time in the game, Nealer then came through with a run-scoring ground ball to score Mazurik and tie it at 2-2.
The Scots again answered right back with a single run in the bottom of the third to go ahead 3-2, and despite having baserunners in each of the next three innings, the Gators were unable to produce a run. They had a prime chance to tie it in the top of the sixth. With two outs,
Abrianna Sadler roped a double to the fence in center. Blinn followed by hitting a flare to the right side of the infield that was initially misplayed by the Scots' first baseman. Sadler never broke stride as she rounded third base, but was thrown out in a close play at the plate to end the frame and the scoring threat.
Macalester then put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring four runs on three hits, a walk, and an Allegheny error to make the score 7-2. The Gators were unable to put together another late-game rally, and were forced to settle for the doubleheader split.
Stuart paced the Allegheny offense in game two, tallying two of the team's five hits. Mazurik reached base three times and scored both Gator runs, finishing with a single, two walks, and a stolen base.
Miranda Arison went the distance in the circle and took the loss, allowing seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits, striking out five.
Macalester's Saraswati Wilson went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while teammates Lisa Semro and Brittany Ehmann each had two hits. Ehmann started in the circle and went the distance for the Scots, striking out five to earn the win.
The Gators will return to action on Wednesday, playing their third doubleheader in as many days. At 9 a.m., Allegheny will take on Washington & Jefferson, before closing out the day with an 11 a.m. contest with Clarkson.
