CLERMONT, Fla.—The Allegheny College softball team fell in a pair of games on Monday (March 19) at The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.
The Gators seventh inning rally fell short in their first game as Western New England College picked up a 7-5 win. In the second game of the day, they fell to Tufts University 6-0.
GAME ONE
Kelly Lafferty led off the game with a double down the left field line. After
Samantha Valera advanced her third on a sac bunt,
Hayley Behr brought her home on a bloop single to left field for the game's first run. However, Western New England took advantage of five hits and an error in the bottom of the frame to plate six runs.
The Gators made up some ground in the fourth.
Jessica Zavolta hit a double to left field. With
Sarah Rogan running for Zavolta,
Jessica Gordon doubled to right center for the RBI, cutting the lead to 6-2.
The Golden Bears added one in the sixth to increase their lead to 7-2 heading into the final inning.
The Gators earned a pair of walks to lead-off the seventh, but picked up two outs on infield flies. After the runners moved up on a passed ball,
Maria DiDonato singled to right field, scoring Gordon and
Emily Cramer. Lafferty followed up with another single, scoring DiDonato from second. However, the Golden Bears recorded the third out on a strikeout as the Gator rally fell short.
DiDonato had two runs batted while Lafferty had two hits to lead the offense.
Victoria Vradenburg was effective in a relief effort on the mound, going 5.2 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run with seven strikeouts.
GAME TWO
The Gators threatened in the bottom of the first with back-to-back lead-off singles from Lafferty and Valera, but the Gators were unable to capitalize on the opportunity.
The Jumbos broke the stalemate in the third as they sent one across the plate. The Gators threatened once again with two runners on in the bottom of the frame, but a ground ball double play ended the threat.
In the top of the fourth, the Jumbos had three hits that resulted in three more runs. Tufts threatened for more but the Gators got out of the jam, leaving two runners stranded.
Tufts tacked on another pair of runs in the sixth to seal the 6-0 win.
Lafferty went three-of-four in the game to lead the Gators while Valerino went two-of-three.
The Gators are back in action Tuesday (March 20) to take on Centre College and the University of Wisconsin- Superior.
