LA PLUME, Pa. - After splitting with Valley Forge last weekend, the Notre Dame of Maryland Gators would face a tougher test on the road at Keystone. The Giants entered the contest with a 5-3 record, having won by 8-run rule in four of their five victories. They were tied for second in the CSAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, while the Gators were picked eighth out of 10 teams. NDMU was 2-14 against Keystone going back to 2012, with their last win coming in 2017, and were not able to improve on those marks, dropping both ends of the double header, 20-2 (5 innings) and 22-2 (5 innings).
Game 1
It was not the start the Gators were looking for as the Keystone Giants sent 11 women to plate in the bottom of the first inning, jumping out to a 7-1 lead, including four extra base hits. It didn't get much better for Notre Dame of Maryland as five more runs allowed brought the score to 12-1 after two frames.
It looked like the Gators were going to be able to chip into the Keystone lead in the top of the third as they loaded the bases with one out. They managed to scratch across one run on an error, but the threat was quickly neutralized as
Kayla Grube hit a come backer to the mound, and the Giants turned a 1-2-3 double play to get out of the jam.
Catcher,
Miranda Burton continued to be impactful in the batter's box, accounting for all three of the Gator hits in first the game of the twin billing.
Game 2
Sophomore,
Jessie Leatherwood, needed to have a short memory and put game one in the rearview. With a clean slate to work with, the defense was not able to help her get off to a good start in the second game. A two out error provided extra opportunities, and Keystone capitalized, quickly putting the Gators in a 4-0 hole, three of the four runs coming unearned.
Rena Dyson would relieve Leatherwood at the start of the home half of the second to perhaps, show something different to the Keystone hitters who proved to be locked in. However, patience paid off for the Giants as Dyson, not having pitched in her career, issued eight walks, a double, and a three run homerun in 13 batters faced. Leatherwood would return the favor, relieving Dyson with two outs. After allowing a two RBI single, the lefty was able to pick up a strikeout looking to finally stop the bleeding. It was 15-0 after two.
NDMU showed plenty of heart, despite the long second inning. Freshman,
Promise Cannon, batting in the 9-spot, started the third with a base hit to left. It was her first career base knock.
Maci Lopez followed up with a single of her own. Miranda Burton would load the bases with a third hit, and Leatherwood in the cleanup spot drove in two runs with another base hit to left center. The two runs showed the Gators wouldn't go away quietly. But it was all the would muster in the defeat.
Next up
The Gators have to forget this one quickly as they head to Cairn University on Friday for a brunch double header. First pitch at 10:00am. Going back to 2013, NDMU is 7-7 versus Cairn. The Highlanders are 5-9 on the season. 3-3 in CSAC play.
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