MEADVILLE, Pa. -  On Senior Day at the Robertson Athletic Complex, the Gators were involved in a pair of one-run affairs, as they defeated Wittenberg 3-2 in the opener, before falling to the Tigers by an identical score in the nightcap.

The split moves the Gators' record to 5-9 overall, 1-3 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, while Wittenberg moves to 11-11/4-2.

In the opener, the Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when a two out double by Ashlee Wright brought home Abby Baker, who walked with one out.

Allegheny quickly countered in the home half of the first to even the score.  Belle Mazurik led off by reaching on an error, and after stealing second, moved to third on a single by Caitlin Nealer.  With two outs, Allie Landowski hit a grounder to the right side, but the throw was misplayed by the first baseman, scoring Mazurik with the unearned run.

The Gators added on to the lead in the bottom of the second.  Jaricka Simmerman led off with a double off the fence in right center, and was sacrificed to third on a bunt from Abrianna Sadler.  Jessica Zavolta and Mazurik drew back-to-back walks to load the bases, before Alexis Ryan sent a single through the right side to bring home Simmerman and put the Gators in front 2-1.  Nealer promptly followed with a sacrifice fly to left center that plated Zavolta and gave Allegheny a two-run lead.
 

The game then turned into a pitcher's duel between the Gators' Nealer and the Tigers' Chelsea Zang, as the two teams would combine for just five hits and six baserunners over the next three innings.  In the bottom of the fifth, Allegheny looked poised to add some more insurance, as Nealer doubled down the left field line and Sadie Stuart drew a walk to put runners at first and second with one out.  However, Zang pitched out of trouble, getting a ground out and a strikeout to escape the inning unharmed.

The Tigers got one run back in the top of the sixth, when Wright hit a towering home run to left center with one out to cut the score to 3-2, but Nealer responded by ending the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.   Nealer would then close out the game in the seventh, getting the Tigers to go down in order to preserve the one-run victory.

In the circle, Nealer earned her 58th career victory by going the distance and allowing just two runs on five hits, while she was also her team's top performer on offense, finishing 2-for-2 with a double and sacrifice fly.  The Gators totaled five hits for the game, with the singles from Simmerman, Ryan, and Hailey Marthaler.

Zang took the loss for the Tigers, going five innings and allowing three runs on four hits, with four strikeouts.  Wright led the Wittenberg offense with her 2-for-3 showing.

In game two, both teams went down in order in the first inning, before Gator starter Miranda Arison was forced to pitch out of trouble in the top of the second.  The Tigers loaded the bases with one out, but the sophomore induced a pair of ground outs to escape the inning unscathed.

The Gators weren't as fortunate in the top of the third, as Wittenberg sent seven batters to the plate to score three runs on three hits, a walk, and an error, to take a 3-0 lead.

Allegheny came right back in the bottom half of the inning to cut into the Tiger lead.  Taylor Massart led off with a double to the left field corner, before Hannah Blinn reached on an error.  Sadler followed with a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third with one out, and Mazurik then followed with an infield single to load the bases.  After the Tigers were able to cut a run down at home on a grounder to short, Nealer came through with a two-run single to left field to make the score 3-2.

Back in the circle in relief after her opening game victory, Nealer then took control, striking out four batters over the next two frames to keep the Gator deficit at one. In the bottom of the fourth, Allegheny's offense looked poised to tie or take the lead, after Simmerman singled and Massart walked walked with one out.  However, Zang, also on in relief, was able to get out of trouble with a pair of groundouts to preserve the lead.

Both offenses kept quiet over the next two innings, before Wittenberg threatened to add on in the sixth, as a pair of singles put runners at first and second with one out.  Simmerman then came up with a gem in center field, robbing Casey Hobbs with a diving catch, and then doubling the runner off of second to end the frame.  In the bottom half of the inning, Simmerman belted a double to left for her second hit of the game, but was stranded after a line out to short ended the inning and quelled the Gators' final scoring threat.

Wittenberg out-hit Allegheny 8-6 in the nightcap, with Simmerman (2), Nealer, Mazurik, Massart, and Blinn accounting for the Gators six tallies.  Arison took the loss in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks in 2 2/3 innings, before giving way to Nealer, who closed out the game by throwing 4 1/3 shutout innings with seven strikeouts.

Zang got the victory in game two, throwing four shutout frames on three hits with three strikeouts, while she also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a run scored.  Shannon Lance went 2-for-2 for the Tigers with a walk and an RBI.  

Prior to the day's first game, the Gators' four seniors, including Nealer,  Stuart, Leah Herlocker, and Shannen Segiel, were recognized for the four-year careers in the Blue and Gold.

The Gators will now have a quick turnaround before returning to action on Sunday, when the travel to Delaware, Ohio to take on conference rival Ohio Wesleyan in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.