CLERMONT, Fla. – The Allegheny softball team scored 35 runs in two games as they picked up their second straight sweep to begin the 2024 season Monday (March 4) at The Spring Games.
 
The Gators defeated Elms 26-0 in game one before fighting back to defeat New England College 9-7 in game two.
 
Game One - Allegheny 26, Elms 0
 
The Allegheny bats came alive in their first game of the day, collecting 26 runs on 20 hits. The 26 runs are the most in a single game since they hit the same number against the Massachusetts School of Liberal Arts in 2009.
 
In her first inning of collegiate work, Madison Hulse (San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo) struck out the first two batters she faced. In the bottom of the frame, Halle Book (Wexford, Pa./North Catholic) walked then stole second. After Olivia Devries (Kent, Ohio/Field) also earned a walk, Sofia Genareo (Lakewood, N.Y./Southwestern Central) doubled to the right field gap, bringing Book home. Sophia Godzak (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon) kept the rally going with a single to shallow center, plating Devries. Hadley Horensky (Jefferson Hills, Pa./Seton LaSalle Catholic) was the third Gator walked, loading the bases for Audrey Blarr (Clarence, N.Y./Clarence), who also walked to score Genareo. Cameron Long (Midlothian, Va./Midlothian) cleared the bases with a three RBI double to the left field fence as the Gators led 6-0 after the first.
 
The Gators added to their lead in the second as Book, Devries and Genareo hit singles and stole a base. Genareo's hit scored Book before Godzak delivered another single to score Devries. Samantha Phillips (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon) loaded the bases off a fielder's choice. Horensky hit the ball down the left field line which scored Godzak and Genareo before Blarr drove Phillips home. Horensky would come home on an error before Blarr came across on a wild pitch. The scoring continued as a Book single would score Long, a Genareo double scored Book and a Godzak sacrifice fly brought Devries in to make it 16-0.
 
Morgan Kinney (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) tallied a hit in the third, scoring Horensky. A sacrifice fly by Julia Perillo (Fairfield, Conn./New Fairfield) would bring Long across home before Kinney scored on a run. Sydni Junker (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) scored on an error while Horensky drove in Meredythe Baird (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./Holy Redeemer) as the score climbed to 21-0.
 
The Gators added five runs in the fourth. WIth the bases loaded, Baird, Kylie Thompson (Saegertown, Pa./Saegertown) and Maley Gleason (Houston, Texas/Westside) drove runs in. Thompson also scored on a wild pitch. Arianna Wilkinson (Warren, Ohio/Howland) doubled to center, scoring the final run of the game.
 
Inside the Box

• In her collegiate debut, Hulse earned the win, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out five.
• Genareo went three-for-three with two doubles and three RBI while scoring twice.
• Horesnky also had three hits with three RBI.
• Godzak and Long also drove in three runs while Blarr was responsible for two.
• Devries had a hit and came across the plate three times.
• Kinney, Blarr, Perillo, Baird, Thompson, Gleason and Wilkinson all had a RBI.
• In all, 14 Gators scored runs and 12 had hits, including six multi-hit performances. 

Game Two - Allegheny 9, New England 7
 
Belardinelli was walked to begin the game and moved to third on a Book single. In a wild play, Book would come across the plate as the Gators led 1-0 after the top half of the inning. However, the Pilgrims.scored twice in the bottom of the frame to take the lead.
 
Godzak led off the second with a double through the left side of the infield all the way to the fence. Wilkinson pinch ran for Godzak and advanced to third on a Phllips single. Blarr would bring Wilkinson on an RBI single, tying the game at two. A walk issued to Long loaded the bases for Belardinelli, who grounded out but brought Phillips home to make it 3-2. Once more, the Pilgrims answered in the bottom of the frame, plating a run on a sacrifice fly to tie the game before scoring again on a bloop single to regain the lead. 
 
New England added an additional run in the third to extend their lead to 5-3.
 
Book and Devries hit back-to-back singles to start the fifth inning. After a wild pitch, Genareo drove Book home to cut the lead to one. Godzak tied it up when her single through the right side brought Devries in. Phillips was hit by a pitch and Horesnky was walked, loading the bases for Long. For the second straight game, Long answered the call with a bases clearing double, putting the Gators in front 8-5.
 
For the second straight inning, Book led off with a hit, this time a triple to the right center gap. She came home on a Devries sacrifice fly.
 
New England made up a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth as the lead dropped to 9-7. They threatened again in the bottom of the seventh, putting two on with two outs, but Belardinelli got out of the jam as the Gators picked up the win. 
 
Inside the Box

• Book finished the game with three hits and three runs scored.
• Godzak had a pair of hits, driving in a run.
• Phillips also had two hits with two runs scored.
• Devries, Genareo, Belardinelli and Blarr all had one hit and one RBI.
• Long drove in three with a double.
• Belardinelli earned the win in relief, her second in as many days. In 5.0 innings of work, she struck out nine while allowing just two runs on four hits.

News and Notes

• The Gators moved to 4-0 on the season, their first 4-0 start since 2012.
• Today marked the first games between Allegheny against Elms and New England.
• The 26 runs against Elms marked the most in a single game since the Gators had the same amount in a 26-2 win against the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on March 16, 2009.
• The 20 hits in game one were the most since they achieved the same amount against Kenyon in 2021. 

Up Next
The Gators are back in action Tuesday (March 5) as they take on 19th-ranked Lebanon Valley and Otterbein.