GREENCASTLE, Ind. – The Gators split a doubleheader with conference-leading DePauw, scratching out a 1-0, nine-inning victory in the opener, before dropping the nightcap 7-3.
In the opener, the Gators rode a dominant pitching performance from reigning North Coast Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week
Caitlin Nealer, before manufacturing a run in the top of the ninth to earn the extra inning victory. In the nightcap, the Gators rallied late with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but the Tigers put the game away by scoring three in the bottom half of the frame.
After the split, the Gators move to an even 10-10 overall, and 6-4 in the North Coast Athletic Conference, while DePauw is now 21-12/10-2.
Game one was a pitcher's duel throughout, featuring Nealer and the Tigers' Kahla Nolan, as the two teams combined for just 10 base runners in the nine-inning affair.
The Gators looked to piece together an early two-out rally in the first, after back-to-back singles from Nealer and
Sadie Stuart, but Nolan escaped the trouble with an inning-ending strikeout.
The two one-base hits were the Gators' lone offense through the game's first six innings, but Nealer kept the Tiger batters equally baffled. DePauw led off the bottom of the second with a single, but after a sacrifice bunt, Nealer left the runner in scoring position by ending the inning with a pop up and strikeout. In the fourth, the Tigers got a one-out single, but the runner was cut down by the Gators'
Hannah Blinn on a stolen base attempt.
The Gators looked primed to take the lead in the top of the seventh, as
Sadie Stuart led off with a double to the gap in left center. However, she remained standing on second base after Nolan retired the next three Allegheny hitters in order.
In the bottom of the seventh, DePauw's Lauren Godden led off the inning by reaching on an error, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. However, Nealer quashed the scoring threat by getting a pop up and strikeout to send the game into extras.
After both teams went down in order in the eighth, the Gators went to work to manufacture a run in the top of the ninth.
Alexis Ryan led off the frame with a single to right center, and promptly stole second base. A Nealer sacrifice bunt moved Ryan to second, before Stuart came through with the eventual game-winning RBI with a grounder to second base.
Nealer opened the ninth by getting a strikeout, before Linsey Button cracked a single, moved to second on a sacrifice, and took third on a wild pitch. Nealer promptly induced a routine ground out to third baseman
Taylor Massart to close out the shutout victory.
The senior ended with a line of nine innings pitched, no runs, four hits, four strikeouts, and no walks, and faced just four batters over the minimum while needing just 108 pitches. Stuart and Nealer each had two hits for the Gators off of Nolan, who was also impressive in the circle, striking out 11 batters against two walks.
In game two, the Tigers finally got to Nealer, scoring two runs on three hits in the first inning, including a leadoff solo home run from Sammi Bell, to take an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the fourth, DePauw used three consecutive doubles to add on two more runs and go in front 4-0.
Meanwhile, the Gator bats were kept silent by DePauw starter Emma Baldwin, who allowed just two base runners, and zero hits, through the first five innings.
In the top of the sixth, Allegheny put together its lone rally of the game. With one out,
Jessica Zavolta broke up Baldwin's no-hit bid with an infield single, and
Belle Mazurik followed by reaching on an error. A throwing error on a grounder by Ryan would bring home
Stella Pratt, who was pinch-running for Zavolta, to make the score 4-1. Nealer followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Mazurik, before
Jaricka Simmerman racked a two-out single to score Ryan and pull the Gators to within one.
DePauw put the game away in the bottom of the seventh, using four singles and a passed ball to score three runs and go in front 7-3. The Gators were unable to muster another rally, going down in order in the top of the seventh.
The two sixth inning singles were the only hits the Gators would manage off of Baldwin, who struck out eight in the complete game win.
Nealer started and took the loss, working 2 1/3 innings and allowing four runs on five hits with one strikeout.
Allison Cabo came on in relief and threw the final three-plus innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, with one walk and one strikeout.
The Gators will now embark on a busy final week of the regular season, playing four doubleheaders in the next seven days. The gauntlet begins on Monday, when they host Hiram at 3:30 p.m. at the Robertson Athletic Complex in a doubleheader that was originally rained out on Thur. Apr. 16.
