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CLERMONT, Fla. (March 8) – The Saint Vincent softball team split on its final day at the annual NTC Spring Games in Florida, falling to Immaculata 5-4 before bouncing back with a 14-5 win over Penn State Brandywine in the nightcap.
A late rally helped Immaculata University top the Bearcats in walkoff fashion, 5-4, to open the Bearcats final day at the NTC Spring Games.
Sophomore catcher
Kelsey Hunter helped the Bearcats strike first with a solo home run in the top of the first inning.
Hunter tacked on a second Bearcats run with an RBI single down the right field line that brought junior
Morgan Murphy in to score, making it 2-0 SVC.
Immaculata answered back with a pair of two out runs in the bottom of the third, both of which were unearned after a Bearcat error started the rally.
Both teams put at least one runner on in the fourth but came up empty handed, keeping the game tied at 2-2.
The game remained tied until the top of the seventh inning. After a one out single by Hunter,
Shelby Noel blasted her second home run in as many days, giving the Bearcats a 4-2 lead.
SVC looked poised to snap its losing streak but a three-run rally in the bottom of the frame downed the Bearcats. Emily Mesey launched a bases clearing double with two outs to help the Mighty Macs earn the walk-off win.
Hunter had a terrific individual effort at the plate, going 3-for-4 including her first home run of the season. Noel,
Courtney Patterson and
Victoria Culver each added two hits.
Saint Vincent lost despite outhitting Immaculata 14-4 in the game. The Bearcats were plagued by three errors, as all five Macs runs were unearned.
Samantha Emert was saddled with the loss in the circle, allowing five unearned runs in 6.2 innings. The senior allowed just four hits while striking out one.
Game 2 – Penn State Brandywine
Junior pitcher
Emily Duerr opened the game strong in the circle, retiring Brandywine in order in the top of the first. In the bottom of the frame, Hunter and Noel were at it again. After Hunter drew a two-out walk, Noel tripled to the fence to bring her home. Freshman
Morgan Rittenhouse added an RBI single to score Noel and make it 2-0.
The
Bearcats doubled their lead in the second when junior
Rachel Harenchar drilled a two-run home run to left center. Junior
Courtney Patterson and freshman
Kelsie Linden produced an RBI each
Brandywine would cut the deficit in half with three runs (6-3) in the top of the fourth, two of which were again aided by a defensive error.
Kelsey Lineberger doubled home
Adrianna Workman to help SVC get one back and make it 7-3. Brandywine closed within two runs in the fifth, making it 7-5.
Saint Vincent closed it out with seven runs in the sixth, including a two-run homer by Lineberger and a two-run double by Harenchar.
Linden went 3-for-3 in the contest after entering off the bench. Harenchar put together a big performance, going 2 for 3 with her first career home run and four RBI. Noel went 2-for-2, while Culver and Lineberger had two hits each.
Duerr earned the win in the circle, working 5.0 and striking out seven. Emert entered in the sixth when the
Bearcats were up just 7-5, thus earning her first save of the season.
The split closes the Florida trip at 3-5 overall for Saint Vincent.
The
Bearcats are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday, March 14 with a non-conference doubleheader at Penn State Beaver. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
