Little River, SC– The Notre Dame of Maryland University softball team dropped two highly contested games, falling to Gwynedd Mercy by a score of 3-1 in the first game before falling to Vermont St. University Castleton in game two by a score of 4-3 on Thursday, Mar. 14.
GAME 1
The Gators got on the board first scoring in the top of the third inning. Bethani Newbold drove a single into left field and then stole second base to mover herself into scoring position. After Malorie Gogel drew a walk, Candace Forgach-Aguilar laid down a great sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Anabelle Hafner then hit a hard ball to shortstop, reaching base and scoring Newbold to put the Gators ahead 1-0.
The Gators got another excellent pitching performance from Gena Donalds who threw 5.0 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits while striking out four. Gwynedd Mercy fought back one run in the bottom of the third inning and two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 3-1 lead. NDMU would put runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings, but they could not cut into the deficit.
GAME 2
NDMU looked to regroup in the second game of the day against VSU Castleton, scoring in the top of the first inning. A. Hafner led off the game with a single and eventually advanced to second. Charlene Torres blasted a double into the left center field gap, scoring Hafner to give NDMU the 1-0 lead.
The Spartans fought back, scoring in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game at one. NDMU retook the lead in the third inning. Forgach-Aguilar led off the inning by cracking a single into left field. A. Hafner then blasted a double into the left center field gap moving both runners into scoring position. Julianna Leatherwood then reached on an error, allowing both runners to score and give NDMU a 3-1 lead. Castleton answered right back, scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning to level the score at three runs apiece.
The Gators turned to Gogel to take over in the circle in the fourth inning. She would throw 3.1 innings allowing one run on two hits. NDMU put runners on base in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, but could not string together enough hits to retake the lead. Castleton scored in the bottom of the seventh inning, earning the walk-off victory.
WHO'S NEXT
The Gators will close out their spring break trip by taking on Keene St. University and Franciscan University on Friday, Mar. 15.
STAY CONNECTED
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