CLERMONT, Fla. - With a persistent cloudy day looming over the fields, the University of Mary Softball team took on West Chester University in an early morning doubleheader, as the Marauders were able to add two games to their schedule after having to cancel two games due to weather.
 
The Marauders (6-12) struggled to get the offense going against the Golden Rams (2-0), as U-Mary had an opportunity to at least earn a split in the games but ended up falling twice to the school from Pennsylvania.
 
The first game appeared to favor the Marauders as they scored the first run of the game off a throwing error by the shortstop, but little did U-Mary know that would be the only run they would get in the game.
 
The Golden Rams scored two in the bottom of the second as an RBI triple tied the game up, but a throwing error on the play at third resulted in a second run crossing the plate, putting the score at 2-1 after the first.
 
U-Mary had a base runner in the top of the second but failed to move her around and West Chester padded their lead in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to put the score at 3-1.
 
The Marauders had plenty of opportunities to score runs but the bats either disappeared at the plate or batted balls just fell in the wrong spots, reinforcing the long-time notion of 'game of inches' as U-Mary had two more base runners in the top of the third but couldn't get them home.
 
The score turned into 5-1 in favor of the Golden Rams in the bottom of the third off two singles, scoring two more runs; and they kept pouring the runs on as they got two more in the bottom of the fourth and the bottom of the fifth.
 
The game came to an end in that fifth inning after West Chester scored their ninth run off a sacrifice fly to centerfield, putting the score at 9-1 and invoking the mercy rule.
 
The second was much better in terms of the score, unfortunately for the Marauders they still ended up on the negative end even though they scored the first run in the game off a groundball that scored Alana Norman. West Chester got the run back in the top of the second off an RBI double to left center, knotting the score at 1-1.
 
MeLanie Rodriguez got the start for U-Mary in the circle in the game and she put in another great pitching and fielding effort, despite giving up a home run in the top of the third that turned out to be the difference maker.
 
The Marauders had a rare mistake that isn't seen everyday; in the bottom of the fifth inning Colleen Crutchfield drew a lead off walk, but the coach from West Chester appealed for an out since U-Mary was batting out of order. Amber Gamboa was supposed to be the proper batter and instead of having one runner on with nobody out, the Marauders had nobody on with one out.
 
Despite the slip-up, U-Mary still had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh as Gamboa drew a lead off walk, Kristin Ormsby moved her to second off a sacrifice bunt, Demaree Rodriguez singled through the left side and Erin Keen, who came in to pinch run for Rodriguez, stole second.
 
Norman laid down a drop bunt to load up the bases for the Marauders with one out, but the game came to a screeching halt as Nicole O'Haver tried to bloop a single over the head of the second baseman, but the fielder caught the batted ball on the run and doubled up on Norman at first, ending the game and giving U-Mary another loss on the season.
 
Norman did everything in her power to get a run for the Marauders as she finished with five hits between the two games including three stolen bases and two runs scored.
 
Ormsby also hat a multi-hit day as she got two hits in the games with a sacrifice bunt, but provided a solid defensive effort for U-Mary as she made four putouts with six assists and no errors, solidifying her Gold Glove status.
 
The Marauders are beyond the midway point of this Florida trip as they have eight games remaining at the Dot Richardson Spring Games. They'll take on Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the University of Findlay tomorrow starting at 11 a.m., CDT.
 
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