Softball Falls to Scranton, Potsdam at The Spring Games

Softball Falls to Scranton, Potsdam at The Spring Games

CLERMONT, Fla. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team dropped a pair of one-run games to the University of Scranton and SUNY Potsdam on Wednesday afternoon at The Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.

The Bears (2-6) lost 4-3 to Scranton and 2-1 to Potsdam.

Game One

The Bears dropped a 4-3 decision to the University of Scranton in the opener. The BSU defense committed five errors in the contest which led to three of the Royals' four runs being unearned.

Meaghan Dowdell (Parlin, N.J.) went the distance in the circle for Scranton to record her third win of the season. Dowdell (3-0) allowed three runs on eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Laura Hatch (Middleboro, Mass.) also went the distance in the loss for Bridgewater State. Hatch (0-2) gave up four runs, only one of which was earned, on nine hits. She did not issue a walk.

Bridgewater jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run single by Alexandra Ruprecht (Kingston, Mass.) in the top of the fourth inning. Scranton answered with an unearned run in the home half of fthe fifth as the Royals took advantage of three BSU miscues in the frame.

Scranton pushed across three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. An RBI double by Jennifer Sweeney (Dumont, N.J.), a Bridgewater State error and an RBI single off the bat of Allie Hotchkiss (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) accounted for the scoring in the inning.

A pinch hit sacrifice fly by Rebecca Uschmann (Feeding Hills, Mass.) in the top of the sixth cut the deficit to 4-3, but the Bears stranded the potential tying run on third. Bridgewater put a runner on first, a walk to Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.), with one out in the top of the seventh. Dowdell, however retired the next two batters, including a game-ending strikeout, to secure the victory for the Royals.

Megan Zinn (Bridgewater, N.J.) went 3-for-4 with a run scored to pace Scranton's nine-hit attack. Hotchkiss (2-3, RBI) and Jessica Indelicato (Bethlehem, Pa.) also recorded multiple hits for the Royals. Indelicato went 2-for-4 and scored run.

Ruprecht was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored to hightlight the BSU offense. Alexandra Taylor (Hebron, Conn.) also reached safely three times as she singled twice and walked in three plate appearances to go along with a run scored.

Game Two

Bridgewater State dropped a hearbreaking 2-1 decision to SUNY Potsdam in game two of the day. Potsdam scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom the seventh and won it on a walk-off walk.

Megan Fish (Getzville, N.Y.) gave up just one run on seven hits to record her second win of the season in the circle for Potsdam. Fish (2-2) walked one and fanned two.

Natalie Sorrenti (Bridgewater, Mass.) pitched very well for Bridgewater State and had a shutout going heading into the bottom of the seventh. After retiring the first two batters of the frame, back-to-back singles and an infield error loaded the bases and allowed the inning to continue. Another infield error tied the score at 1-1, and Fish then drew a walk to force in Lucy Condon (Kitchener, Ontario) with the game-winning run.

Sorrenti (2-1) allowed just the two unearned runs on eight hits with one walk and five strikeouts.

Samantha Mulcahy (Taunton, Mass.) went 2-for-4 and drove Bridgewater's only run of the game in the top of the second inning. Jenny Heller (Taunton, Mass.) singled to leadoff the second but was erased on a fielders choice ground out. A walk to Megan Sharon (East Longmeadown, Mass.) followed by ground out put runners on second and third with two away. Mulcahy then reached on an infield single to give Bridgewater the early 1-0 lead.

Heller also finished with multiple hits for Bridgewater State as she singled twice in three at bats.

The Bears wrap up their Florida trip on Thursday morning when they take on Wesleyan University at 9:30 and Simpson College at 11:30.