CLERMONT, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson softball team opened its season and its appearance in Florida with a pair of losses.
W&J opens the season 0-2, after dropping a 2-1 decision against Kalamazoo (Mich.) and ending the day with a 4-3 loss in extra innings versus D'Youville (N.Y.).
Jamie Smith led the Presidents in the opener with the only run following a double hit to right center by
Rachel Marx in the top of the third, securing a 1-0 lead that they held until Kalamazoo was able to secure two consecutive runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Krista McCartney was on the mound for W&J, only allowing six hits, striking out five batters while surrendering just one walk.
The second game of the night remained scoreless until the top of the fifth when D'Youville managed to score twice. The Presidents responded with an earned run by
Meghan Staab in the bottom of the fifth.
After another run by the Spartans in the top of the sixth, an error in the bottom of the seventh allowed
Abby Cunningham and Marx to score, tying the game at 3-3.
Using the international tiebreaker in the eighth inning, D'Youville was able to capitalize while W&J was unable to answer, ending the game at 4-3.
W&J will begin its second day in Clermont, Florida against Allegheny at 9:00 am tomorrow, March 20th, and continue with a game against Scranton at 11:00 am.
