GREEN CASTLE, Ind.—The Allegheny College softball team split a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) twinbill at DePauw University in a dramatic fashion Sunday (April 23).
The Tigers picked up a close 2-0 win in game one, but the Gators bounced back for a 6-3 ten inning win in game two.
GAME ONE
In the bottom of the first, the Tigers took advantage of a hit and a Gator error to take a 1-0 lead.
Taylor Massart led off the second with a single through the left side but was left stranded on base.
Similar to the events in the bottom of the first, the Tigers once again took advantage of a hit and a Gator error to increase their lead to 2-0.
The Gators continued to hit well, tallying hits in all but the seventh inning, but were unable to capitalize.
Kala Mahen kept the Tigers from off the board in the final three innings but the Gators offense could not overcome the deficit.
Massart finished the game with a pair of hits, including a double.
Paige Blinkiewicz,
Jessica Zavolta and
Emily Cramer also tallied hits.
Mahen went the full six innings for the Gators, allowing just three hits while striking out five.
GAME TWO
Blinkiewicz earned a walk to lead off the game, and moved to second on a
Maria DiDonato sac bunt. Zavolta singled back to the pitcher to put runners on the corners. However, the Tigers got out of the jam unharmed.
The Gator bats came alive in the third. Blinkiewicz led off with a double, and moved to third on a DiDonato sac. After Zavolta was hit by a pitch, Blinkiewicz came home on a Massart line out to strike first.
Megan Hazlett was also hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second.
Jessica Gordon singled up the middle, bringing Zavolta home from second and moving Hazlett to third. Cramer followed up with an infield single to score Hazlett and make it 3-0.
The Tigers made up some ground in the bottom of the third. They cut the lead to one on a bases loaded walk. With the bases loaded and two outs, Mahen came in and struck out the batter looking to get the Gators out of the jam.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers cut the lead to one. They threatened again in the sixth but Mahen once again pitched out of the situation.
The Tigers kept the Gators off the board heading into the bottom of the seventh where they plated a run to send the game into extra innings.
The Gators were unable to get on base in the eighth. In the bottom of the frame, the Tigers got two runners on but the Gators were able to hold them off.
Neither team was able to score in the ninth, setting up an international runner to start the 10
th. With
Abrianna Sadler starting on second,
Samantha Valera led off the 10
th by reaching safely on an error, moving Sadler to third. Blinkiewicz followed up with a single to right field, plating Sadler and giving the Gators a 4-3 lead with runners on first and second. With two outs and facing a full count, Massart singled to right field, bringing Valera home to extend the lead to 5-3. Hazlett kept the offense rolling, singling down the right field line, scoring Blinkiewicz and bringing the score to 6-3.
In the bottom of the frame, the Gators defense held strong, not letting a run across as they secured the NCAC victory.
Blinkiewicz led the Gators with two hits, two runs and a RBI. Massart had two RBI on a hit. Hazlett, Cramer and Gordon had a hit and a RBI apiece.
Miranda Arison picked up the win for the Gators, going 5.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits. Mahen went 4.2 innings allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out four.
The Gators are back at home Tuesday (April 23) against NCAC foe Kenyon College.
