MEADVILLE, Pa.—The Allegheny College softball team lost a close North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader at home against Hiram College Thursday (April 13).
Hiram took game one 6-4 and game two 9-6.
GAME ONE
Kala Mahen got off to a good start, striking out the first three batters swinging. In the bottom of the first, the Gators put runners on first and second with two outs but were unable to capitalize.
The Terriers got on the scoreboard first, scoring three runs in the third.
Maria DiDonato hit an infield single in the bottom of the third. After she stole second,
Taylor Massart earned a walk. With two outs,
Abrianna Sadler reached via error, bringing DiDonato home for the Gators first run.
In the top of the fourth, the Terriers brought one across the plate.
After Katitlyn Campbell earned a walk in the fourth,
Samantha Valera came in to run for her.
Paige Blinkiewicz smacked a ball down the third base line, bringing Valera home. After Blinkiewicz moved up on a bunt,
Jessica Zavolta singled to bring her home to cut the lead to 4-3.
In the top of the fifth, the Terriers plated another run to move ahead 5-3.
In the bottom of the fifth, Campbell singled and advanced to second on a sac bunt by
Rachel Ramsey. With two outs, Blinkiewicz hit a RBI single to left center, bringing Campbell home to close the gap to one run.
Terriers added one run sixth to once again lead by two.
Jessica Valerino led off the seventh with a single to right field.
Emily Cramer was brought in to run but was called out on a fielder's choice. The Terriers collected the final outs to secure the win.
Blinkiewicz ended the game with two hits and two runs batted in. Sadler also had a multi-hit game for the Gators. Zavolta had a hit and a RBI.
Mahen gave up seven hits in the complete game, allowing three earned runs while striking out nine.
GAME TWO
The Terriers strung together three hits in the opening inning, translating it into a run to take the early lead.
Massart led off the second with a double to left center. After moving to third on a Sadler sac bunt,
Megan Hazlett singled through the left side, bringing Massart across for the first Gator run. Valerino kept the hits coming with a single to put runners on first and second. With two outs,
Shannon Putnam found the gap in right center, bringing two home on a double to give the Gators a 3-1 lead.
After a pitching change, Blinkiewicz singled through the left side placing runners on the corners. DiDonato slapped a hit passed the first baseman, scoring Putnam for the fourth run of the inning.
The Terriers made up some ground in the third, scoring a pair of runs.
Massart led off the bottom of the third with a single to left field. With two outs, Valerino brought her around to bring the score up to 5-3.
In the top of the fourth, the Terriers loaded the bases with no outs. The Gators got two outs before the Terriers hit a three run double to take a 6-3 lead. In the fifth, a similar scenario took place as the lead grew to 9-5.
Massart and Sadler hit back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the fifth. The duo moved up on a Hazlett groundout. Valerino brought Massart home on a single to lower the gap to three runs.
The Gators kept the Terriers off the scoreboard in the sixth and seventh as they trailed 9-6 heading into their final frame. Sadler singled to left field with two outs in the frame but Hiram escaped with the win.
Massart went 3-of-4 with three runs. Valerino went 3-of-3 with a hit and a RBI. Blinkiewicz and Sadler had two hits apiece. In total, seven Gator batters registered hits as they owned a 13-10 advantage in that department.
Miranda Arison struck out four in the complete game.
The Gators return to action Wednesday (April 19) for a NCAC road doubleheader at the College of Wooster.
