CLERMONT, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball suffered a pair of defeats Monday at the annual PFX Spring Games in Clermont, Fla.
SAINT LAWRENCE 7, W&J 3
W&J started off strong tallying a run in the first inning to put themselves up 1-0 heading into the second.
Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Taylor Allderdice) got things started with a leadoff single. The next two Presidents,
Aliya Schraeder (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) and
Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway), would hit into fielder's choice that would erase the lead runner.
The Presidents demeaner then had a slight change as they showcased great discipline at the plate as
Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa. / Penn Trafford),
Austine Kinney (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) and
Sydney Petrowski (Lemont Furnace, Pa./Connellsville) each drew a walk that would score Gratton to give them the 1-0 edge.
St. Lawrence would answer in a big way scoring four runs on five hits before W&J could escape the inning leaving two runners stranded and preventing any further damage.
Miranda Rinehart (Washington, Pa. / Trinity) would draw a leadoff walk for the Presidents but be forced out on a fielder's choice two batters later. DiPietro-Harvey would reach due to the fielder's choice but be left stranded as St. Lawrence closed out the top of the second
on the next batter.
St. Lawrence would tack on another run as the second batter up would launch the ball to right field and race around the bases for a solo in the park home run before W&J would retire the following two batters.
W&J would chip away and score a run in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from
Savannah Keough (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) that would score Gratton to cut the deficit to 5-2 heading.
Neither team would score in the fourth inning.
Abby Fullem (Everson, Pa. / Southmoreland) would notch the only hit for the Presidents in the frame of a single to left field. The Presidents would then shut down the Saints three up three down in the bottom of the frame.
The Saints would start the following inning strong with two outs before lightning would strike and delay the game. The delay would last an hour and fifteen minutes before play would resume with Petrowski up to bat. Petrowski would reach on an error to secure a baserunner for the team but the third out would be made the following play to wrap up the top of the fifth.
The Saints would have two runners left on the bags as W&J escaped the inning with no damage.
The Presidents would shave the deficit to 5-3 in the sixth. Rinehart would record a lead-off double to left center to set a runner in scoring position. DiPietro-Harvey singled to the shortstop who checked back Rinehart before making the throw to first. Rinehart would showcase good base running and break on the throw to make it to third base. DiPietro-Harvey the stole second base during the next at bat, which ended in a drawn walk by Schraeder to load the bases. An RBI groundout by Gratton scored Rinehart to make it 5-3. The Saints would collect the next out and get out of the inning with W&J having two runners left on.
Saint Lawrence would give themselves two insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning on two hits and an error.
Taylor Dunn (Washington, Pa./Trinity) made the start and suffered the loss in the circle.
Bates 4, W&J 0
Bates opened the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first. Bates then added another run in the top of the second inning to take a 2-0 advantage.
The Bobcats would then add another singular run in both the fifth and sixth innings to put things out of reach for the Presidents after play resumed.
Bates held a 9-3 advantage in hits over the Red & Black that insured their victory.
Kyra Blauth (Pittsburgh, Pa. / North Hills) registered two of the Presidents three hits while Allen would record the other.
Witner tossed all seven innings and was saddled with the loss for the Presidents. Witner allowed just one earned run during the seven innings of work.
Up Next: W&J faces Southern Virginia (11:30 a.m.) and Grinnell (1:45 PM) on Tuesday at the Spring Games.
