VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.—The Allegheny College softball team opened their 2018 season by splitting a pair of games at the Virginia Wesleyan Beach Bash held in Virginia Beach on Friday (March 9).
The Gators fell in the opener to SUNY New Paltz 16-6 in their first game before bouncing back with a 4-2 win over SUNY Potsdam in game two.
GAME ONE
The Eagles struck first in the top of the first on a RBI double, but the lead was short lived. In the bottom of the frame, after a
Kelly Lafferty single,
Samantha Valera earned a walk. After Lafferty was out on a fielder's choice, Valera moved up to third on a walk.
Jessica Valerino followed up with a sac fly to center, bringing Valera home to tie the game.
After a scoreless second, the Eagles produced seven runs in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the third, the Gators made up some ground. Lafferty earned a lead-off walk, and moved to third on a Valera double to left field. Lafferty then came across the plate on a
Jessica Gordon groundout.
Jessica Zavolta singled to right field, which brought Valera home to cut the lead to 8-3.
The Eagles added four more runs in the fourth to extend their advantage to 12-3.
The Gators put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Valera led off with a single to right field, and moved up to second on a
Brittany Kittle sacrifice. A Zavolta double scored Valera from second. Valerino then brought Zavolta home on a single to right field. The third Gator run of the inning came on a
Hayley Behr single, scoring Valerino from second.
However, the Eagles added four runs between the sixth and seventh inning to secure the win.
Zavolta, and Valera had two hits apiece, while Zavolta and Valerino drove in a pair of runs each.
GAME TWO
The Gators got on the board early. Valera hit a one-out single in the first, and stole second. With two outs, a RBI single by Zavolta produced the game's first run.
The Bears evened it up in the bottom of the second as they plated the scoring run on a passed ball. After a scoreless third, the Bears gained the lead in the fourth on a two-out RBI single.
The Gators were quick to respond to the deficit. In the top of the fifth, Lafferty led-off with a double down the left field line, moving to third on a ground out. A Behr single to left field brought Lafferty home to tie the game at two.
The score remained knotted at two entering the seventh. Once again, Lafferty led off with a hit, singling down the middle. Valera moved her to second on a sac bunt. The sacrifice set up a Behr double down the left field line, scoring Laffert. After a walk, Zavolta singled, scoring Behr to give the Gators a two-run cushion.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh,
Baylee Tarnowski struck out the final batter swinging to seal the win.
Tarnowski had a gem of a game, going the full seven innings allowing just two hits with one walk. She fanned six batters.
Offensively, Laffert, Valera and Behr all had a pair of hits as seven different Gators tallied hits.
The Gators are back in action tomorrow as they face Rhode Island College and St. Joseph's College – Brooklyn on the final day of the Beach Bash.
