WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Opening their season at THE Spring Games in Florida, the Emmanuel softball team (2-0) fell in two games on Sunday morning at the DiamondPlex Field Complex, dropping a close 4-3 matchup to Aurora (1-0) before a 12-1 (F/5) loss to Benedictine (2-1) in game two.
Game 1: Aurora 4, Emmanuel 3
Despite both teams leaving runners in scoring position during the first two innings, the game remained scoreless early on. Aurora finally broke through in the bottom of the third when
Kelsey Oviatt's one-out single to right field drove in
Mia Rivera, giving the Spartans a 1-0 edge.
Emmanuel responded quickly, taking the lead with two runs in the top of the fourth. Sophomore
Francesca Pizzarella started the rally with a double, then came around to score on another double from
Emely Rodriguez.
Madison Marks kept it going, adding a single down the left field line to bring in another run. The Saints retired Aurora in order in the bottom of the inning to carry a 2-1 lead into the fifth.
Back-to-back singles to open the fifth inning put Emmanuel back in business with no outs.
Alexis Martineau later added an RBI single, extending the Emmanuel edge to 3-1 heading into the bottom of the inning.
With two outs and runners on second and third for the Spartans, an error on a ball into right field brought in two Aurora runs to level the game at three in the fifth.
Aurora's
Faith Biggs led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, giving the Spartans a chance to walk it off. After two quick flyouts,
Kelsey Oviatt's flare to right field took an unexpected bounce past the Saints' defense, allowing Biggs to race home from first and secure a 4-3 victory for Aurora.
For the Saints,
Amanda Penney,
Taylor Chelak, and
Francesca Pizzarella each recorded two hits, while
Alexis Martineau,
Emely Rodriguez, and
Madison Marks contributed an RBI apiece. Marks delivered a strong performance in the circle, pitching 6 2/3 innings and allowing just one earned run while scattering seven hits and striking out eight.
Nina Richards and
Kelsey Oviatt led Aurora with two hits each.
Katelyn Serafin secured the win for the Spartans, closing out the game with 2 2/3 shutout innings while allowing just one hit.
Game 2: Benedictine 12, Emmanuel 1 (F/5)
The Eagles struck first as
Morgan Bruno led off with a walk and later scored on a groundout. Emmanuel answered in the bottom of the inning, with
Amanda Penney reaching base and coming around to score on an
Alexis Martineau double to left-center. Both teams were retired in order in the second, keeping the game tied 1-1 heading into the third.
Benedictine's Lauren Bogard led off the third with a single through the left side, then advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third, putting the Eagles in business with no outs. Morgan Bruno drove in Bogar later in the inning on a bunt, and Victoria Duszynski followed with an RBI single to extend Benedictine's lead to 3-1.
The Eagles' biggest inning came in the fourth, erupting for six runs on five hits. Three straight singles ignited the offense, while a pair of Saints errors and a two-out double from Taylor Oppenhuis stretched the lead to 9-1.
Emmanuel recorded singles from Emely Rodriguez, Francesca Pizzarella, and Amanda Penney in the fourth and fifth innings but couldn't bring any runs across. Benedictine added three more runs on three hits in the top of the fifth, securing a 12-1 victory in five innings.
McKenzie Johnson, Jasmine Lozano, and Lauren Bogard each finished with two hits for the Eagles, while Morgan Bruno scored three times and drove in two runs. Johnson earned the win in the circle, pitching five innings, allowing four hits, one earned run, and striking out eight. Amanda Penney led the way for the Saints with a hit, two walks, and a run scored in the loss.
Up next, Emmanuel will continue their trip in the Sunshine State, facing the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg tomorrow (3/3) at 2:00 PM, followed by a matchup with Allegheny College at 4:30 PM. Both games will be hosted at DiamondPlex Field D.
