CLERMONT, Fla.—The Allegheny College softball team opened up play at The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. with a pair of wins Sunday (March 18).
In their first game, the Gators strung together six runs with two outs in the seventh to defeat Washington and Jefferson 7-3. Their second game of the day was also tight, but the Gators prevailed with a 10-9 extra inning win over the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire.
GAME ONE
The Presidents took the advantage early as they plated two runs in the bottom of the first. The Gators cut the lead in half in the top of the second.
Jessica Zavolta was hit on a full count pitch to lead off. After
Jessica Valerino moved her to second on a bunt,
Jessica Gordon singled to right field, bringing Zavolta home.
After three scoreless innings, the Presidents added one run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead into the seventh.
With one out in the seventh,
Rachel Ramsey singled down the right field line.
Sarah Rogan came in to run for her, and moved to second on a
Kyleigh Cason single up the middle.
Delaney Harrison-Peters entered to run for Cason.
Maria DiDonato safely bunted to load the bases.
Kelly Lafferty hit into a fielder's choice to put two outs on the board.
With two outs, the Gator bats came alive.
Samantha Valera hit a clutch single to right center, scoring two runners to tie the game. With Lafferty on third,
Hayley Behr singled to left field to give the Gators a 4-3 lead. Zavolta followed up with a two-run triple down the right field line to extend the lead to three. Gordon followed up with another single to bring Zavolta home and give the Gators a four run lead.
The Presidents threatened in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two outs. However,
Kala Mahen kept her composure and struck out the final batter swinging to seal the Gators win.
Valera, Gordon and Cason had two hits apiece. Valera, Gordon and Zavolta accounted for two runs batted in apiece.
Mahen picked up the win, going 1.1 innings, allowing one hit.
Baylee Tarnowski got the start on the mound, going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs with four strikeouts.
GAME TWO
Similar to their opening game, the Blugolds scored in the first to take a 1-0 lead.
The Gators were quick to respond. After
Kelly Lafferty led off the bottom of the frame with a single, Zavolta blasted a two-out homerun off the left field foul pole to put the Gators in front 2-1.
The third inning was also friendly to the Gators as they put up five runs. Lafferty hit a one-out single up the middle. She then beat a throw to second as Valera safely reached on a fielder's choice. A Behr hit to center field scored Lafferty and moved Valera to third. A fielding error gave Zavolta first and brought Valera home in the process. Valerino loaded the bases after she was hit by a pitch. After an out, Gordon singled to center which brought Valerino and Zavolta home. A two-out fielding error by the Blugolds brought Gordon home to make it 7-1.
The Blugolds started to chip away at the Allegheny advantage as a run in the fourth and three in the fifth brought the score within two runs.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Gators took advantage of a pair of walks to produce two runs. With Ramsey and Cason on-base, DiDonato tripled to bring the two across the plate.
However, the Blugolds had a productive sixth inning as the tied the game at nine.
The Gators threatened in the bottom off the seventh as they had a runner at third, the Blugolds got out of the jam to send the game into extra innings.
The Blugolds took advantage of the runner starting the extra inning at second by advancing her to third on a sac bunt. Tarnowski kept her cool and forced a pair of groundouts to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the frame.
Rogan started the inning at second. Valera moved her up on a sac bunt. After the Blugolds intentionally walked Behr and Zavolta, Valerino hit a sacrifice to left field and Rogan beat the throw to the plate to give the Gators the walk-off win.
Lafferty went three-of-five with a pair of runs. Zavolta had a team-high three RBI while Gordon and DiDonato had two apiece.
Tarnowski picked up the win, going 2.2 innings allowing one hit and no runs.
The Gators are back in action Monday (March 19) to take on Western New England and Tufts.
