CLERMONT, FL – Timely hitting and a complete game performance by
Brieann Backes carried the University of Mary softball team to a nightcap win on the opening day of their Florida spring trip after a heartbreaking extra inning loss to the first game. Following an 11-7 loss to Le Moyne, the Marauders rebounded to defeat the University of the Sciences 4-2.
A back-and-forth battle with Le Moyne (6-1 overall) in the opener that featured multiple lead changes, the Dolphins cracked a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the eighth inning to claim the non-conference win.
After Le Moyne opened the scoring with two tallies in the first, UMary (4-3 overall) responded with a pair of runs in the top of the second.
Colleen Crutchfield led off the inning with a home run and
Kylie Alto doubled in another run.
Immediately the Dolphins posted a trio of runs in the bottom of the second for a 5-2 lead.
Undaunted, the Marauders closed the gap with a single run in the third on a
Paige Matsuki run-scoring single. UMary took its first lead of the game in the fifth, scoring three times as
Madison McGonigal walked with the bases loaded, Crutchfield doubled home a run and
Emma Noble singled in the go-ahead marker for a 6-5 Marauders advantage.
After Le Moyne pulled even with a run in the bottom of the sixth, Matsuki scored on a 2-out Alto single to left to push UMary in front again 7-6.
A defensive miscue by the Marauders with two outs in the bottom of the seventh allowed the Dolphins to tie the game before winning the contest in the eighth on a grand slam walkoff winner over the center field fence by Lauren Zazzaro.
Crutchfield and Alto both had three hits and two RBIs in the game. Crutchfield also scored a run.
UMary outhit Le Moyne 10-7 but the Dolphins benefitted from 11 walks and a hit batter.
Zazzaro scored three times and drove in five runs for the Dolphins. Her home run was her only official at bat of the game.
After the offensive fireworks of the first game, pitching and defense highlighted game two.
The UMary pitcher of record in the opener, Backes shut down USciences with clutch pitches in tough situations. She left two Devils on base in the second and the sacks full in the fourth while pitching clean innings in the second and fourth.
The Marauders finally broke through in the fourth inning with a trio of unearned runs. After Matsuki reached on a throwing error by the Devils shortstop, Crutchfield and
Emma Noble followed with singles to load the bases. An Alto sacrifice fly on a hard shot to right field scored Matsuki with the opening run with the two other runners moving up a base on the throw home. A single up the middle by freshman catcher Racheal Laetsch scored two more runs for a 3-0 UMary lead.
USciences finally broke through in fifth with a pair of runs on a triple and a sacrifice fly.
UMary regained some of its cushion with a solo run in the home half of the fifth on a double by McGonigal to score
Rebekkah Keller for a 4-2 lead.
Backes made the two-run advantage hold. After allowing two hits in a scoreless sixth inning, the junior righthander pitched a perfect seventh to finish off the win. For the game she allowed six hits and three walks while striking out three in a complete game effort.
Six different players had hits for the Marauders.
The Marauders return to action against Lewis and Saint Anselm on Monday, March 5.
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