BOX SCORE (SUNY - POTSDAM)
BOX SCORE (SAINT MARY'S - MN)
PHOTO GALLERY CLERMONT, Fla. (March 1) – The Saint Vincent softball team opened the 2015 season in thrilling fashion, earning a pair of wins behind strong offensive performances.
The Bearcats opened their day by beating SUNY-Potsdam by a commanding 14-1 score. SVC rallied in the nightcap, battling back from several deficits before winning 8-7 on a two run double by
Sarah Swettlen in 10 innings over Saint Mary's (MN).
In the opener, SVC scored four runs in the third inning to build an early lead. The inning was highlighted by a two-run double to the right center field gap by sophomore
Laken Lyon.
After the Bears answered with a run of their own on a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, the Bearcats pushed their lead to 6-1 with two runs in the top of the sixth. The first of which when
Courtney Patterson scored on a wild pitch, then
Shelby Noel came home on an illegal pitch to bolster the SVC lead.
The Bearcats poured it on in the top of the seventh, adding eight more runs to round out the scoring. The big inning saw
Rachel Harenchar, Swettlen,
Christina Folino and
Marisa McAndrews all chip in RBI hits.
Emily Duerr then added a pinch hit two run double for good measure.
SVC scored 14 runs on 11 hits in the opener, seeing nine players record at least one hit. Meanwhile, the offense showed patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks. Swettlen walked four times alone and scored three runs.
Senior
Suzie Cool recorded two hits and two runs, while
Kristin Segiel and Noel both crossed the plate twice as well against the Bears. Sophomore
Samantha Emert pitched a complete game for the win, allowing just one run on eight hits.
Trailing 2-1 and down to their last out in the nightcap, Noel laced a RBI double to deep center to plate Swettlen and force extra innings against the Cardinals.
One in extra innings, the International Tiebreaker was used, placing a runner at second base to start each half inning. That opened up the offense for both teams. It appeared as though things would go against SVC, as Saint Mary's scored two runs in the top of the eighth. However, SVC answered with two runs on an RBI double from
Kelsey Lineberger.
The teams traded runs in the ninth inning and Saint Mary's regained a two run lead in the 10th before Saint Vincent answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning to walk off with victory.
Swettlen, Segiel, Noel, Lineberger and Jenna Lovasco all recorded two hits apiece in the game two win. Freshman
Emily Duerr earned the win, pitching 10 innings in her collegiate debut.
SVC returns to action tomorrow morning with another pair of games. The Bearcats face Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology at 9 a.m. and then taking on Immaculata University at 11 a.m.
