KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Washington & Jefferson College softball team suffered a pair of losses during competition at the Spring Games in Central Florida on Tuesday. The Presidents fell by a narrow 4-3 score to St. Catherine University before falling by an 11-4 margin later in the day to Wheaton College (Mass.).

W&J now holds a 3-4 overall record this season.

St. Catherine 4, W&J 3

The Presidents dropped a tight 4-3 decision to the Wildcats in a competitive matchup Tuesday morning.

W&J suffered the loss despite out-hitting St. Catherine by a 10-4 margin. Julia DiPietro-Harvey (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) led the Presidents at the plate with a 4-for-4 effort out of the leadoff spot in the order. DiPietro-Harvey also finished with all three RBI for the Red and Black.  

The Presidents loaded the bases in the top of the first inning but were unable to push a run across. W&J plated the game's first run in the top of the second inning. Back-to-back singles by Deanna Gratton (Monroeville, Pa./Gateway) and Sydney VanNess (Warren, Ohio/Howland) put the Presidents in business. After a groundout advanced the two runners a base, DiPietro-Harvey singled through the left side to score Gratton. DiPietro-Harvey then stole second in front of a walk that loaded the bases with one out. W&J was unable to add any more damage, as St. Kates limited the damage in the frame.

The Wildcats scored three unanswered runs in the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. All three runs scored with two outs. Back-to-back two-out hits pushed St. Kates in front.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Presidents tied the score with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Gratton produced a two-out single to start the W&J rally. VanNess followed by drawing a walk and Anna Luxenberger (Montoursville, Pa./Loyalsock Township) reached base on a fielders choice to load the bases. DiPietro-Harvey came through with her third hit of the day, a two-run single to left center, which plated Gratton and VanNess for the tying runs.

The Wildcats answered with the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the inning. After two quick outs, an error followed by a walk would set up the go-ahead score. A two-out RBI single followed to make the score 4-3 in favor of St. Kates.

The Presidents were retired in order in the sixth and seventh innings, respectively.

Taylor Dunn (Washington, Pa./Trinity) put together her second-straight outing without surrendering an earned run. The sophomore tossed a complete game, allowing four unearned runs. Dunn struck out three, walked two and allowed four hits over six innings of work.

Wheaton (Mass.) 11, W&J 4

Wheaton put up four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in securing the victory over the Presidents.

Hannah Allen (Harrison City, Pa./Penn-Trafford) paced the Presidents' offense with three hits and two RBI in the loss. Ally Jones (Donegal, Pa./Mount Pleasant) also reached base twice in the contest by drawing a pair of walks.

Wheaton opened the game with four-straight hits, which set the tone for the game. W&J attempted to answer right back, putting a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the frame. DiPietro-Harvey laced her fifth hit of the day, a leadoff double. However, the Presidents were unable to push any runs across.

The Lyons tacked on six runs on five hits in the top of the third inning to extend their lead to 10-0.  The Presidents got on the board in the fourth when Allen launched her first home run of the season.

W&J pushed across three more runs in the fifth inning. A single by Savannah Bodnar (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) followed by a double to left center by A'Niyah Dixon (Pittsburgh, Pa./Taylor Allderdice) set up a scoring chance for the Presidents. Back-to-back walks would follow to bring in a run. After Wheaton recorded a second out, Allen smacked an RBI single down the left field line. A bases loaded walk drawn by Gratton produced another run to trim the deficit to 10-4.

Wheaton scored the game's final run with a solo tally in the top of the seventh.

Macayle Thornhill (Warren, Ohio/Jackson-Milton) started and suffered the loss in the circle. Thornhill gave up nine runs in 2.2 innings. She struck out two and walked three.

Dunn came on in relief and worked the final 4.1 innings. Dunn allowed two runs on eight innings to finish up.

Up Next: The Presidents enter their off day on Wednesday. W&J returns to action on at the Spring Games on Thursday (March 11) with games versus Gordon College (4:30 p.m.) and North Park (6:45 p.m.).