MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Notre Dame of Maryland headed to New Jersey for the penultimate pair of games in their 2021 season. St. Elizabeth University was the host, riding a six game winning streak into playoff contention after starting the season 1-7. Two teams going in opposite directions as the Gators desperately needed to snap a 12-game losing streak. They would do just that, splitting the twin bill, losing 17-0 (5 innings) in game one, and picking up their second win of the season, 9-5 in game two.

Game 1
St. Elizabeth's bats were scorching hot to start the game. In the bottom of the first they tagged Maci Lopez for eight runs on seven hits, no errors. Lopez only walked one, and hit a batter in the frame. Otherwise just a matter of hitting the ball in the gaps and down the lines as the Eagles banged out four triples.

The Gators tried to get something going in their next at-bat as Miranda Burton and Kayla Grube led off the second inning with back-to-back base hits. But Eagles pitcher, Alyssa Hampton, retired the next three batters in order with two strikeouts, and fly out.

The bottom of the second got out of hand again rather quickly.  Two leadoff singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. The bases stayed loaded for seven singles, a reached on error, and a walk, as the Eagles crossed the plate eight times before the Gators recorded an out. It was 16-0 Eagles, after two.

Jessie Leatherwood would relieve Lopez of pitching duties entering the bottom of the third. She was able to escape the inning with minimal damage, allowing just one run on two hits. Then went on to strike out the side in the fourth.

The Eagles took game one, 17-0. The Gators scattered six hits, including doubles by Burton and Samantha Miguez Tolliver.

Game 2
The Gators busted out of their scoring slump right away, putting up five runs in the top of the first inning. Eagles pitcher, Marinely Guerrero, did not have command of her pitches and was relieved by game one starter, Alyssa Hampton, after Guerrero allowed four runs to score without recording an out. Hampton allowed another run, on an RBI base hit by Maci Lopez giving the Gators a five run cushion.

Jessie Leatherwood returned to the mound to start game two and held the Eagles scoreless in their half of the first. Miranda Burton bats cleanup, and also contributes with her arm, throwing out a base runner trying to steal. A runner that would have scored on an ensuing hit, and one of her two assists on the day.

In the second the Gators tacked on two more runs with a leadoff hit by Leatherwood and a double by Burton. Rena Dyson drove in the pair with a base hit, making the score 7-0.

The Eagles would claw their way back into the game. They scored an unearned run in the home half of the second, three more in the third, cutting the Gator lead to 7-4. Leatherwood held them in check in the fourth.

The Gators added to their lead when Leatherwood drove in Promise Cannon and Maci Lopez with a bases loaded single, making the score 9-4. Despite three errors by the Gators in the home half, the Eagles only managed to plate one run and ended the inning with a strike-em-out throw-em-out double play. Both teams were retired in order in the sixth inning giving Notre Dame of Maryland a 9-5 lead going to the last frame.

Leatherwood handled her business in the bottom of the seventh, and secured the 9-5 win for the Gators, halting the losing streak at 13 games. The standings will now read next to Notre Dame of Maryland, "Streak: W1".

Nine runs are a season high for the Gators, whose previous high was six in their season opener against Valley Forge.

While a sweep would have secured a playoff spot for St. Elizabeth, the split does not for the Eagles, as it leaves Centenary in sixth place in the conference, still in contention.

On the day…
Maci Lopez, 4-8, RBI, 2 R
Samantha Gamble, 1-5, BB, R
Jessie Leatherwood: 2-5, BB, 2 RBI, 2 R   9.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 13 K, W
Miranda Burton: 3-5, 2 2B, HBP, RBI, 2 R, 2 CS
Kayla Grube: 1-5, BB, RBI
Rena Dyson: 2-5, BB, 3 RBI, R
Andreina Franco-Ramos: 0-5, HBP, RBI
Samantha Miguez-Tolliver: 2-6, 2B
Promise Cannon: 0-6, R

Next up
The Gators will wrap up their 2021 season with a doubleheader tomorrow at Centenary University. The Cyclones are 7-9 in CSAC and 7-11 overall, and will be trying to win their way into the playoffs, but will need help from Rosemont, who faces St. Elizabeth's tomorrow as well. First pitch at Centenary scheduled for 1:00pm.
 
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