CLERMONT, Fla. (March 3) - The Saint Vincent softball team hit the field for the first time this year at the annual PFX Spring Games in Florida. The Bearcats fell in extra innings to Adrian College before using powerful offense to overwhelm Regis College in game two.
 
Game 1 Recap – Adrian 5, Saint Vincent 4 (8 Inn.)
 
Both teams got off to a slow start but it was Saint Vincent who opened up the scoring in the third inning. Lauren Miller and Kelsey Tobin both scored as Johnna Karas reached on an error by the shortstop.
 
Alona Sleith, who advanced to third on the last play, scored on a single up the middle by Sydney Gurneal. The Bearcats held the 3-0 lead at the end of the third.
 
In the fifth, Saint Vincent added to its total when Kelsie Linden scored on a throwing error as Celia Knappenberger reached on thanks to a fielder's choice.
 
Trailing 4-0 going into the sixth, Adrian got on the board and cut the lead to three. Holding Saint Vincent scoreless in the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs looked to rally in seventh and they did. Scoring three runs with two outs, all of them recorded as unearned.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, after being hit by a pitch, Miller advanced to second on a single by Gurneal. However, the Bearcats did not drive the run and the game headed to extra innings.
 
With the international tiebreaker in place, Adrian started the eighth with a runner on second. In three batters, the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game, 5-4.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Saint Vincent started with Abbey Ginter on second. Ginter advanced to third when Shae Robson singled to right field with two outs. Unfortunately, the Bearcats did not score the run and fell 5-4.
 
Riley Assalone pitched the whole eight innings, giving up the five runs with only one being earned. Assalone allowed five hits and four walks while striking out two.
 
In her first collegiate game, Gurneal went two-for-four from the plate with a run batted in.
 
Game 2 Recap – Saint Vincent 13, Regis 0 (5 Inn.)
 
In the second game of the day, Saint Vincent had no trouble scoring. Tobin doubled to left center to drive Robson in. After Miller as hit by a pitch, Sleith drove a ball over the left center fence for a three-run home run giving Saint Vincent a 4-0 lead.
 
Later in the inning, as Kelly Flaherty stole second base, Gurneal broke for home and scored making the lead 5-0 after the first.
 
In the second, the Bearcats added to its lead when Robson scored on a Miller double. Sleith collected her fourth RBI of the game when she doubled, allowing Miller to cross home plate.
 
Mary Maceda and Linden each collected a RBI as Saint Vincent led 9-0 going to the third. In the third inning, Ginter started the scoring as she grounded out to the shortstop with Tobin scoring from third.
 
Assalone, who advanced to third on the last play, scored when Karas singled down the right field line. Maceda collected her second run driven in of the game as she doubled, bringing Karas home. Saint Vincent added another run in fourth and claimed the victory, 13-0.
 
Erica Smiley recorded her first win as she went four strong innings, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out five batters. Sleith went two-for-three for the game with five runs batted in while scoring twice.
 
Saint Vincent (1-1) faces Bridgewater College (4-0) Tuesday morning at 9:15 a.m. before taking on Houghton College (0-0) at 11:30 a.m. Both games take place at Hancock Park in Clermont, Fla.