WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (March 6) – The Saint Vincent College softball team suffered a pair of close losses on its final day at The Spring Games, falling 3-1 to New England College in the evening's first game, before dropping a 6-4 decision to Wheaton College (Ill.) in the nightcap.

Game One: New England College 3, Saint Vincent 1
The day's opening game saw New England (3-1) score all three of its runs in its final at-bats in the seventh inning to earn the comeback victory.

The Bearcats got on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Jessica LaPorte doubled and Alyssa Henderson singled to open the inning, Anita Szymoniak hit a sharp line drive to the shortstop, who attempted to double off the runner at first. The throw went wide, however, allowing LaPorte to dash home with the game's first run.

The score remained 1-0 until the top of the seventh, when New England used four singles and an error to plate all three of their runs, which were each unearned. SVC brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh after Zoe Mangan drew a one-out walk, but the Pilgrims got a game-ending ground out to close out the win.

Haley Bicko started in the circle and was strong for SVC, going the distance and allowing three runs (zero earned) with three strikeouts.

Offensively, the Bearcats were limited to just three hits, including LaPorte's double, Henderson's single and a single by Leah Yoder.

Game Two: Wheaton 6, Saint Vincent 4
The nightcap followed a similar theme, with the Bearcats jumping out to an early lead, only to see Wheaton score five times in the bottom of the fifth inning.

SVC started the scoring in the top of the first, as LaPorte laced a one-out single and was promptly plated on a double to the left-center gap by Henderson to make it 1-0.

Wheaton threatened in the bottom of the first with a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt putting a runner at second with only one out. A fly ball was then hit to right field, and SVC right fielder Lily Rush made a running catch and fired to the second baseman Bicko, who threw a perfect relay strike to the third baseman Shayna Perigo to complete the 9-4-5 double play.

The Saint Vincent offense went right back to work in the top of the second. With one out, Mackenzie Favero singled to center and promptly stole second base. Two batters later, LaPorte smacked a single up the middle to bring home Favero and make it 2-0.

The Bearcats added to the lead in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Favero singled to left field and then stole her second base of the day. This time, Bicko came through with the run-scoring hit, smacking a single to left field to plate Favero with the Bearcats' third run.

SVC held on to the three-run lead until the bottom of the fifth, when Wheaton scored five runs on five hits – including three bunt singles – to jump in front 5-3.

The Bearcats got one run back in the top of the sixth, when Favero walked, stole second for the third time, and score on a Bicko single to center to pull to within 5-4.

After Wheaton added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, the Bearcats looked primed to rally in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out after Perigo was hit by a pitch, A.J. Arnal walked and Lexi Domachowski reached on an error. Wheaton escaped the jam unscathed, however, getting a pair of pop-ups to end the game.

Saint Vincent racked nine hits in the game, with Favero going 2-2 with a walk, three runs scored and three stolen bases. Bicko, Henderson and LaPorte each went 2-4.

Olivia Bushore started in the circle and allowed five runs on seven hits with one strikeout in 4.0 innings pitched. Shelby Dobrzynsky threw the final two innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits.

The Bearcats will now return north and will be back in action on Tuesday, March 12, with a 3 p.m. non-conference doubleheader at Penn State-Du Bois.