MEADVILLE, Pa.— The Allegheny College softball team split a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) doubleheader against Oberlin College Wednesday (April 5).
The Yeowomen won game one 6-1 but the Gators bounced back for an 8-2 win in game two.
GAME ONE
Taylor Massart led off the second with a single up the middle. She advanced to second on a
Sarah Rogan ground out but was left stranded there to end the inning.
After a scoreless first and second inning, the Yeowomen struck first, scoring two in the top of the third.
Kaitlyn Campbell hit a two-out single through the right side in the bottom of the fifth but the Yeowomen got out of the inning without allowing a run.
In the top of the sixth, Oberlin plated an additional run to extend the lead to 3-0.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Jessica Valerino hit a blooper down the right field line.
Jessica Zavolta followed up by earning a walk. With two outs, Massart had her second single of the game to load the bases.
Megan Hazlett came through with a single to bring
Jessica Gordon, Zavolta's pinch runner, home to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Yeowomen added one more run in the seventh. They threatened more but the Gator defense got out of the jam.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh,
Maria DiDonato singled through the left side and moved to second on a
Paige Blinkiewicz groundout. However, the Yeowomen record out number three to secure the win.
Massart led the Gators with a pair of hits. Hazlett had one hit which went for a RBI. Gordon provided the Gators run.
Miranda Arison started in the circle for the Gators. She pitched 6.1 innings, allowing four earned runs.
GAME TWO
With one out in the first, Valerino singled on a hard hit through the left side. Zavolta moved her to second as she reached first safely on a fielder's choice. Massart followed up with her third hit of the afternoon, bringing Valerino home for the game's first run.
Abrianna Sadler then singled through the left side to bring Zavolta home safely. The hits continued for the Gators as a Hazlett single brought Massart home to give the Gators a 3-0 lead after one.
In the second, DiDonato was hit by a pitch. Valerino advanced DiDonato on her second single of the game. Zavolta followed with a single just inside the right field line, bringing DiDonato home. Massart continued to produce with a RBI single to bring the score to 5-0. Sadler extended the inning as she reached first on an error to load the bases. Hazlett's second hit of the game brought Zavolta home for the Gators sixth run.
The Yeowomen threated in the top of the third, putting runners at second and third with one out but
Kala Mahen got the Gators out of the jam with a strikeout and groundout.
The Yeowomen got on the board in the fifth, cutting the lead to 6-1.
Valerino tallied her fourth single of the game with one out in the sixth inning. Zavolta followed up with a double to left center. With runners on second and third, Massart smacked a two RBI double off the left center fence to bring the score to 8-1.
The Yeowomen scored on in the seventh but the Gators sealed the conference win.
Valerino went four-of-four from the plate with three runs. Massart tallied four RBI and a run on three hits. Zavolta finished with three runs, two hits and a RBI while Hazlett had two hits and two RBI.
Mahen went the distance for the Gators, allowing just one earned run while striking out three.
The Gators are back in action Thursday (April 6) for a nonconference doubleheader against John Carroll University.
