BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (April 23) – The Saint Vincent softball team was swept in a Presidents' Athletic Conference doubleheader at Geneva College.
In Geneva's 9-1 victory in game one, the hosts did all of their offensive damage over the final three innings, while in the nightcap, the Bearcats' late comeback fell just short in their 8-6 loss.
The Bearcats fall to 17-15 overall and 9-9 in PAC play, and head into their final doubleheader of the regular season in a three-way tie for the sixth and final conference playoff spot.
Game One: Geneva 9, Saint Vincent 1
In the opener, the Bearcats had at least one batter reach base in every inning, but were unable to come up with a big hit, stranding 12 runners on base, including twice leaving the bases loaded.
The Bearcat offense recorded five hits and three walks over the first three innings but were unable to push across the game's first run. Geneva opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, using an infield single, stolen base, and another single to manufacture the two-out run.
The Golden Tornadoes then added on in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run home run by Madison Rapp that extended the lead to 3-0.
Saint Vincent threatened in the top of the fifth, with
Olivia Persin and
Shayna Perigo each singling, but both runners were again stranded, before the Golden Tornadoes scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the sixth to push their advantage to 6-0.
The Bearcats finally broke through in the top of the sixth. With one out,
A.J. Arnal and
Kendall McConnell drew back-to-back walks, before each moving up 60 feet on a passed ball.
Mackenzie Favero then reached on an error to plate the game's first run, before Persin followed with a single to load the bases with one out. The sacks would remain full, however, as Geneva hurler McKenzie Rapp induced a pop up and a fly out to end the inning.
Geneva then put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, using two errors, a double, and a single to close out the game's scoring.
Perigo and Persin each went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Arnal drew three walks.
Haley Bicko started in the circle and was saddled with the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in five innings of work.
Game Two: Geneva 8, Saint Vincent 6
In a back-and-forth nightcap, the Golden Tornadoes broke open a tie ballgame with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, before the Bearcats rallied to cut the deficit to two. The Bearcats would then put the tying run on base in the top of the seventh, before a leaping catch in right field saved the game for the hosts.
The teams traded zeroes over the opening two innings, before the Bearcats found the scoreboard first in the top of the third. With one out, Favero reached on an error and Persin walked, before
Jessica LaPorte cleared the bases with a double to the fence in left center to give SVC a 2-0 lead.
The Golden Tornadoes answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the third, capped off with a two-run homer, to jump in front 3-2.
The back-and-forth continued in the top of the fourth. With one out,
Zoe Mangan reached on an error, and then gave way to pinch runner
Katie Lampe. Persin and LaPorte then racked back-to-back singles, with LaPorte's base knock plating Lampe and tying the game at 3-3.
Alyssa Henderson would then reach on an error, bringing home Persin and putting the Bearcats back in front, 4-3.
The SVC lead was short-lived, as the bottom of the fourth saw the Golden Tornadoes send nine batters to the plate and score five runs on five hits to open up an 8-4 advantage.
The Bearcats responded in the top of the fifth.
Nicolette Kloes led off with a walk, before Arnal doubled to the left field corner to put runners at the corners. McConnell followed by reaching on an error that allowed Kloes to cross the plate, before Favero shot a single to left to plate
Olivia Goodwin, running for Arnal, and close the gap to 8-6. Persin followed with a single to right center to load the bases, but the Golden Tornadoes were able to escape further damage by getting a popup and groundout to end the inning.
Saint Vincent looked to put one final rally together in the top of the seventh, as Mangan drew a walk and Persin cracked a single to put the tying run on base. With two outs, LaPorte laced a liner to right field, but Geneva's Justine Robbins made a leaping catch to end the game and quash the SVC rally.
Persin went 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored to pace the SVC offense, while LaPorte went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. Perigo also tallied two hits, while Kloes was walked twice.
Olivia Bushore started and worked 4.0 innings in the circle, allowing eight runs on nine hits with four strikeouts. Arnal pitched the final two frames, allowing just one hit with one strikeout.
The Bearcats will now conclude the regular season with a 3:30 p.m. doubleheader against Grove City on Friday, April 26. The twinbill holds major PAC playoff implications, as the Wolverines are part of the three-way logjam in the No. 6 position in the conference standings.
Prior to the Grove City doubleheader, the Bearcats will honor their senior class of Persin, LaPorte, Bicko, and
Leah Yoder, with traditional Senior Day festivities.
