BOX SCORE - MISERICORDIA

BOX SCORE - OHIO NORTHERN

PHOTO GALLERY

The Saint Vincent softball team dropped a pair of contests to open the season in Clermont, FL.  Misericordia University defeated the Bearcats 4-2 in the first game of a split doubleheader, then Ohio Northern held off a late Bearcat rally for a 4-3 win in game two.

In the first game, SVC got off to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, with Samantha Emert doubling home Alexis Foster, who had reached on a walk.  The lead stretched to two runs in the second inning, as Jenna LoVasco singled to lead off, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Suzie Cool, then scored on a Foster double.

The score remained 2-0 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Cougars scored four runs on as many hits.  Pitcher Jess Armillay then got out of a tough spot in the 7th, getting a double play ball with two runners on, to end the game.

Ally Vrcek took the loss in the circle for the Bearcats, striking out 7.  Emert had two of SVC's seven hits on the day, while LoVasco was 1-for-1 and drew two walks.

In game two, Emert made her debut in the circle, and was locked in a pitcher's duel with Ohio Northern's Paige Ordean through the first five innings, with each team managing only one hit.

In the bottom of the sixth, however, the Polar Bears broke the game open with six hits, tallying four runs.  The Bearcats refused to quit, with Emert hitting a one-out single.  When the left fielder misplayed the ball, Emert picked up two extra bases.  A single by Sarah Swettlen scored Emert, making it 4-1.  Breanne Wallace then doubled to the fence in left, and Swettlen hustled home from first to cut the gap to two runs.  Shannon Baczek was next to the plate, responding with a double to right center that scored Wallace, but Ordean then settled down and got the final two outs to complete the 4-3 win.

Saint Vincent will return to action in a split twinbill on Monday, and both games will be broadcast on the SVC Sports Network. Saint Vincent faces Houghton College at 3PM, followed by a game with Regis College at 5PM.