BALTIMORE- The Notre Dame (MD) softball team picked up their first win of the season, defeating John Jay College by a score of 9-8 in game one. The Gators could not complete the sweep, falling 7-4 in eight innings in game two.
GAME 1
The Gators (1-6 Overall) came out firing, taking the lead in the first inning. With runners on first and third,
Miranda Burton smashed a double down the left field line, driving in the games first run.
Lilyian Hafner followed by hammering a double into left field, driving in another run. Later in the inning, with Hafner at third,
Bethani Newbold stole second base giving Hafner an opportunity to swipe home.
The Bloodhounds (4-5 Overall) clawed back into the game, scoring one run in the second and three runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. NDMU looked to find an immediate answer in the bottom of the third inning, putting two runners on base.
Jessie Leatherwood smacked a single into center field, bringing in a run and tying the game at four. Later in the inning, Hafner capitalized on wild pitch, scoring to give the Gators a 5-4 lead.
Emily Bonnett extended the advantage, launching a sacrifice fly that allowed Leatherwood to score.
Candace Forgach-Aguilar drove in one more run, blasting a single up the middle to give NDMU a 7-4 lead.
NDMU struck again in the bottom of the fourth inning. Burton doubled to right center, bringing home
Emma Livingston to make the score 8-5. Later in the inning, Leatherwood lifted a sacrifice fly into center field, allowing Burton to score. John Jay made one final push scoring three runs in the sixth inning to close within one, but the Gators held on for the victory.
GAME 2
The Gators (1-7 Overall) struggled to regain their rhythm early in game two, being held to just one hit in the first four innings. The Bloodhounds (5-5) took advantage, racing out to an early 4-0 lead. NDMU got on the board in the fourth inning. With two outs in the inning, Leatherwood worked a walk. Newbold rolled a single up the middle, drawing an errant throw that allowed Leatherwood to sprint around the bases and score.
NDMU made a major push in the sixth inning. Scarlet Miller started the rally by singling up the middle. Burton then smacked a single to left and NDMU capitalized on an error with Miller scoring and Burton moving over to third base. Hafner lifted a single into left field allowing Burton to easily score. Newbold tied the score at four lasering a single up the middle to score Hafner.
The Gators had a chance to win the game in the seventh inning, getting a runner in scoring position, but could not take the lead sending the game into extra innings. The Bloodhounds scored three runs in the eighth inning, holding on for the 7-4 victory.
WHO'S NEXT
The Gators have a quick turnaround and will face Baruch College on Sunday, Mar. 19. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
