GRANVILLE, Ohio—The Allegheny College softball team concluded their 2017 season by splitting a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader at Dension University Friday (April 28).
In game one, the Gators scored a pair of runs in extra innings to win 5-3, but fell 8-0 in game two.
GAME ONE
With
Maria DiDonato on first by a fielder's choice,
Jessica Zavolta singled to put runners on first and second.
Taylor Massart followed up by smacking the ball over the left field fence, giving the Gators a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second, the Big Red took advantage of a hit and an error to cut the lead to 3-1.
After a scoreless third inning, the Big Red once again took advantage of a hit and an error to plate another run, cutting the lead to 3-2 in favor of the Gators.
In the bottom of the fifth, Denison tallied another run as they tied the game at three.
Zavolta led off the top of the sixth with a single. After Massart moved her to second on a sac bunt,
Jessica Valerino singled to center field to put runners on the corners. However, the Big Red got out of the inning with no harm done.
Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
The Gators came alive in the eighth. Zavolta reached safely via error to lead off the inning. Once again, Massart moved her up on a sac bunt. After moving to third on a wild pitch, Valerino hit a two-out double to left field, bringing Zavolta around for the go ahead run. Bailey Tarnowski came in to pinch run for Valerino, and scored on an
Abrianna Sadler single to give the Gators a two run cushion heading into the bottom of the eighth.
The Big Red threatened in the eighth, putting two runners on with two outs but Gator pitcher
Kala Mahen was able to force a groundout to seal the fourth straight win for the Gators.
Mahen went the full eight innings for the Gators. She allowed just one earned run while striking out three.
Zavolta, Valerino and Sadler had a pair of hits apiece. Sadler and Valerino each had a RBI coming in the eighth. Massart had three RBI on her homerun.
RIcki Asher and Lauren Secaras led the Big Red with two hits apiece. Sarah Herold had a pair of RBI.
GAME TWO
Blinkiewicz led off the game with a single to right field. DiDonato then reached safely as Blinkiewicz beat out a throw to put runners on first and second. However, the Big Red was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
In the bottom of the frame, the Big Red scored two runs on three hits and two errors to gain the advantage. They added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third on three hits. In the bottom of the fourth, Denison added one more run to pull ahead, 5-0.
In the top of the fifth, Valerino had her third hit of the day to lead off. Once again though, the Big Red escaped the inning, leaving the Gator runner stranded.
The Big Red kept the Gator offense stifled entering the bottom of the sixth. After scoring a run, the Secaras hit a two RBi single to give them an 8-0 win.
Blinkiewicz and Valerino recorded the hits for the Gators.
Miranda Arison struck out three in five innings of work.
Secaras led Denisn with three hits and three RBI while Asher had three hits and a pair of RBI.
