CLERMONT, Fla. — The Endicott softball team went 1-1 overall on day three of its spring break trip to Florida with an 8-5 win against Ripon in game one and a 7-0 loss Transylvania in game two.
GAME ONE: Endicott 8, Ripon 5
Trailing 5-4 in the sixth inning, Madison Mucci (Danvers, Mass.) belted a game-tying home run to left center field to even the score at five-all. Kayla Sheldon (Burlington, Mass.) followed with a bunt single and a stolen base, while Danielle Stratton (Agawam, Mass.) singled to second to put runners at the corners. The Gulls then took the lead for good on Jamie Hopgood's (Warwick, R.I.) three-run blast to dead center field to go ahead 8-5.
Mikaela Mallozzi (Shelton, Conn.) capitalized on the newfound momentum in the seventh as the senior reliever closed the door with a fly out, a pop out and a groundout after a leadoff double to clinch the win, and her first save of the season. Meanwhile, Endicott starter Laura Somerville (Suffield, Conn.) improved to 2-0 in the circle on six innings pitched, eight hits, five runs (four earned), one walk, and five strikeouts.
Offensively, Hopgood finished the contest going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Much also went 3-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI, while Emily Sharpe (South Glens Falls, N.Y.) and Stratton both produced multi-hit games.
GAME TWO: Transylvania 7, Endicott 0
Behind a strong pitching performance from Kameron Bowling (Louisville, Ky.) and three home runs, Transylvania picked its sixth straight victory.
Bowling went 5 2/3 innings, only allowing one hit - which came in the fifth with one out - alongside two walks and three strikeouts for her second victory of the season.
Meanwhile, the big hit for the Pioneers came in the fifth when Madison Dorsey (Indianapolis, Ind.) delivered the knockout blow with a three-run homer to left center to make it a 5-0 matchup.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (5-1) enjoys an off day tomorrow before returning to action on Thursday against UMass-Boston and Bowdoin at 4:30 and 7:00 PM, respectively. The Gulls 5-1 start through their first six games matches the best beginning to a season since 2008, also 5-1 that year.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)