MEADVILLE, Pa. – An explosive start in the opener and a middle-inning rally in the nightcap lifted the Gators to a sweep of Kenyon at the Robertson Athletic Complex.

The two victories, by scores of 11-5 and 5-2, come in a pivotal North Coast Athletic Conference clash, as the Gators now own a 9-4-1 mark against conference foes, while Kenyon falls to 9-7 in the NCAC. 

In the opener, the Gators ceded an early run to Kenyon in the top of the first, before answering in a big way.  With one out in the bottom of the first, Belle Mazurik and Caitlin Nealer smacked back-to-back singles, before Sadie Stuart was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Jaricka Simmerman was also hit, bringing home Mazurik with the Gators' first run of the day.  Nealer and Stuart then would score after being out throws to home, on grounders from Hannah Blinn and Allie Landowski to put the hosts in front 3-1.
Taylor Massart then followed with the big blow,  blasting the first pitch of her at bat well over the fence in straightaway center for her second homer of the season, and first career grand slam, to make the score 7-1.

The Gator bats stayed alive in the bottom of the second, taking on three more runs to go up 10-1.  With one out, Nealer doubled, and then two batters later, Simmerman followed with a single to put runners at the corners.  Blinn then came through with her second RBI in as many innings, shooting a base hit to center to bring home Nealer, before the sophomore catcher scored on a single by Massart.

Allegheny's 11th run of the game came in the bottom of the fourth.  After Blinn singled to lead off the frame, she gave way to pinch runner Stella Pratt, who moved to second after a walk to Massart and then stole third base.  Pratt would then score on a wild pitch to give the Gators a 10-run lead.

Kenyon attempted to chip away over the final three frames, scoring three times in the fifth and an unearned run in the seventh, but the early deficit was too large to overcome.
Nealer started in the circle and won her sixth consecutive start, working all seven innings and tying a career-high with 10 strikeouts to mark her 24th career double-digit strikeout performance.  The senior also had a big day at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

Massart set a career high with five RBIs, and was one of four Gators to finish with two hits, joining Nealer, Blinn, and Mazurik.  Simmerman and Kaitlyn Campbell each tallied one hit.

In the nightcap, Kenyon looked poised to take an early lead, loading the bases with a pair of singles and a hit batter in the top of the first, but Gator starter Miranda Arison averted the jam by getting a pair of strikeouts and an inning-ending pop-up to keep the game scoreless.

The Ladies score the game's first runs in the top of the third, when Lindsey Susolik hit her NCAC-leading eighth home run of the season, a two-run blast that snuck inside the foul pole on the left field line, to go in front 2-0.

Allegheny bounced right back to even the score in the bottom of the frame.  Mazurik led off the home half of the third with a walk, and promptly stole second base.  Nealer followed with her second hit of the game, and fourth of the day, singling to center to plate Mazurik and make it a one-run game.  Sadie Stuart reached on a fielder's choice, and would eventually score the tying run after a liner to left from Blinn was misplayed by the outfielder.

The Gators went right back to work in the bottom of the fourth.  Massart led off with a double off the fence in center, and then gave way to pinch runner Shannen Segiel, who scored three pitches later when Jessica Zavolta smacked an RBI single up the middle to give the Gators a 3-2 lead.

Zavolta would move to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alexis Ryan, and then tagged up to third on a fly ball from Mazurik.  After Nealer walked with two outs, she drew a pickoff throw at first base from the Kenyon catcher.  Nealer would remain in the rundown for an extended time, reaching second base safely and allowing Zavolta to scamper home to make it 4-2.  Nealer then scored the Gators' final run on a sharp grounder to short from Stuart that was misplayed by the shortstop.

Relieving Arison in the third, Nealer shut the door the rest of the way, allowing just three baserunners over the final five frames while striking out five to earn her second win of the afternoon.

The Gator offense posted seven hits in the game two victory, with two apiece from Stuart and Nealer.  Blinn and Zavolta each went 1-for-2, while Massart finished 1-for-3.
   
The Gators will continue their busy final weekend of the regular season on Sunday, as they remain home to take on Case Western Reserve in a 1 p.m. non-conference tilt at the Robertson Athletic Complex.  Allegheny is then scheduled to conclude the regular season on Monday, hosting NCAC foe Hiram at 4 p.m.