Allentown, Pa.– The Notre Dame of Maryland University softball team continued their momentum, sweeping Cedar Crest College to improve to 4-0 United East opener on Friday Apr. 5. The Gators held off a late by the Falcons to take game one 7-5 and then rolled to a 15-4 victory in game two.
GAME 1
The Gators took the early lead, scoring in the top of the of the first inning. Julianna Leatherwood worked a walk and Jessie Leatherwood drove a single into right field, putting a pair of runners on base. After both runners advanced into scoring position, Bethani Newbold lifted a double over the head of the Falcons left fielder, driving in a pair of runs. NDMU added another run in the top of the second inning. Bethany Steers and Kayla Bright led off the inning with singles to put a pair of runners on base. Later in the inning, Anabelle Hafner lifted a fly ball into center field, allowing a run to score. Cedar Crest answered back, scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning to make the score 3-1.
NDMU got a strong pitching performance from Je. Leatherwood, who pitched all 7.0 innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out six Falcons batters. The Gators went back to work in the top of the third inning, extending their lead. Je. Leatherwood led off the inning by rocketing a triple over the right fielder. Charlene Torres then smacked a single into left field, allowing Je. Leatherwood to score easily. Later in the inning, Makayla Lopez lined a double into right field, allowing a run to score giving NDMU a 5-1 lead.
The Gators added a run in the sixth inning. Steers led off the inning with a single to left field. Scarlett Miller came on to pinch run and she eventually scored after Gena Donalds drew a throwing error. Cedar Crest answered right back, scoring in the bottom of the inning to make the score 6-2. NDMU looked to tack on another run in the top of the seventh inning. Je. Leatherwood led off the inning by blasting her second triple of the game. Torres brought her home, hitting a ground ball to shortstop to make the score 7-2. The Falcons capitalized on an error in the seventh inning, scoring three runs to close within striking distance, but they could not pull any closer with the Gators holding for the 7-5 victory.
GAME 2
NDMU once again struck first in game two of the doubleheader, scoring in the top of the first inning. A. Hafner led off the inning by smacking a double off the center field fence, and then stole third to move herself into scoring position. Ju. Leatherwood hit a hard grounder on the right-side of the infield allowing A. Hafner to score. Cedar Crest responded, taking their first lead of the game in the bottom of the inning by plating a pair of runs.
The Gators offense would explode in the top of the third inning. NDMU loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Torres rocketed a line drive into center field that hit off the fielder's glove, allowing a run to score and tie the game at two. Newbold and Lopez each reached on field errors that allowed two more runs to score, giving the Gators the lead. Bright then blasted a single into left field, allowing two more runs to score, pushing the Gators lead to four. Candace Forgach-Aguilar kept the rhythm going, smacking an RBI single into left field. Two more throwing errors allowed two more runs to score, making the score 9-2. Je. Leatherwood then singled to third base, bringing in another run to make the score 10-2. Later in the inning, Newbold drove a single up the middle that brought in two runs. Lopez capped off the 13-run inning by driving a single into right field that drove in the final two runs. Cedar Crest tried to respond by scoring two runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 14-4.
Donalds had a great outing in the circle, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out two batters. NDMU added an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. Torres smacked a single through the left side, scoring Ju. Leatherwood who had early reached on a double. NDMU shut down the Falcons offense in the fifth inning, securing the 15-4 victory.
WHO'S NEXT
The Gators will travel to face Hood College in a nonconference doubleheader on Tuesday, Apr. 9. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED
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