Saints Suffer Loss to No. 1 Trine in Game One, Defeated in Extra Innings by Penn State Brandywine in Game Two

LEESBURG, Fla. – Saints Softball (2-3) dropped a doubleheader on Wednesday in their third play-date at THE Spring Games in Florida. In the first game, the nation's top ranked team, the Trine Thunder (6-1), defeated the Saints 10-0 (F/5). After falling behind 7-0 to Penn State Brandywine (5-3) in the second game, the Saints came all the way back to send the game to extra innings, but fell 8-7 (F/8).

Saints Suffer Loss to No. 1 Trine

The first five Thunder batters reached base to allow Trine to jump out to a first-inning advantage. A double to left centerfield from Debbie Hill (New Whiteland, Ind.) plated the first two runs of the game for the Thunder. Emma Lee (Cottage Grove, Wis.) later lofted a single into right field to tack on two more runs for the number one team in the nation as they held a 4-0 lead after the first inning.

After Lauren Clausen (Elk Grove, Ill.) struck out the side in the top half of the inning, a leadoff walk for Trine's Ellie Trine (Kokomo, Ind.) put the Thunder back in business in the bottom of the second inning. Once again, it was Lee who drove in two more runs, this time through a double down the right field line. The Thunder added another run in the third inning, holding a 7-0 advantage as the two sides entered the fourth inning.

Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) earned Emmanuel's first hit of the day in the fourth inning as the Saints looked to claw back into the game. She would end up stranded with the next two Saints unable to find a hole. After Trine added three more to their tally in the fourth, first-year Mia Fernandes (Taunton, Mass.) reach based on a single in the top half of the fifth inning as the Saints looked to extend the matchup. Fernandes would advance to third base on a wild pitch and a steal, but Emmanuel was unable to drive her in as the Saints fell 10-0 (F/5) by run-rule.

Hill concluded the day 3/3 with two RBIs and two runs scored while Lee finished 2/2 with four RBIs for Trine. Clausen earned the win for the Thunder, tossing 4.0 innings of one-hit ball to go along with eight strikeouts. Chelak and Fernandes each finished with a hit apiece in the loss for the Saints.

Big Comeback Falls Short, Saints Downed by Penn State Brandywine in Extras, 8-7

Brandywine posted the game's first run in the top of the first inning through a long RBI triple from Kaylee Mushinski (Allentown, N.J.). Emmanuel stranded two Lions baserunners to stay within a run, but an offensive explosion was on the horizon for Brandywine in the second inning.

The Lions' first two batters of the second inning reached base through a single and a walk. After a sacrifice bunt and another walk, Meghan Ferry (Gloucester City, N.J.) dropped in a based-loaded single into left field to double the Brandywine lead. It was Mushinski's turn next, and after opening the scoring with her triple, she sent a deep drive over the left field fence for a grand slam to place the Saints in a 6-0 second inning hole. The Lions added a seventh run in the third inning, holding a commanding lead through three.

It wasn't until the fourth inning that the Saints were able to break up the no hitter through an Olivia Conti (Cranston, R.I.) single after Taylor Chelak (Westborough, Mass.) worked a walk. The walk and single would begin a 7-0 scoring run for the Saints to level the game.

Sammy Hayes's (Braintree, Mass.) RBI-single followed by a Brandywine error plated two runs for the Saints to begin the comeback. First-years Alexis Martineau (Merrimack, N.H.) and Madeline Parrish (Andover, Mass.) later singled to add two more runs to the Saints tally, bringing Emmanuel within three as the two sides entered the fifth inning.

With Madison Marks (Edgewater, N.J.) keeping the Lions' bats at bay, the Saints continued their battle in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles from Chelak and Conti to begin the inning put the Saints in business with no outs. A Brandywine error scored Chelak and a sacrifice fly from Hayes scored Conti to cut the Lions edge to one.

After stranding a runner in the bottom of the sixth inning, Emmanuel entered the seventh needing a run to push the contest into extras. Conti walked and then stole second to begin the inning and put a runner in scoring position with no outs. A Mia Fernandes (Taunton, Mass.) single allowed Conti to advance to third. Head Coach Brenna Morrissey then put on a squeeze bunt that Hayes executed perfectly, scoring Conti, and leveling the game at seven. The Saints were unable to produce another run, sending the game into extra innings.

With a runner placed on second to begin the top of the eighth, Isabella Hurta (Colts Neck, N.J.) reached first on a walk. Jess James (Yardley, Pa.) then layed down a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error on the play plated a run for the Lions as they took an 8-7 lead into the bottom half of the inning. The Saints went on to go hitless in their final trip to the plate, falling to Brandywine 8-7 (F/8).

Mushinski led the Lions offense with a 2/5 (3B, HR) day that included five RBIs. Lexi Bussenger (Bangor, Pa.) added in two hits, an RBI, and a run scored for Brandywine. Hurta was credited with the win, going 3.0 innings and surrendering just one run. Conti finished 3/3 on the day with three runs scored while Hayes contributed two RBIs in her 1/3 afternoon for the Saints. Marks threw 6.2 innings in relief, allowing four hits and one earned run to go along with six strikeouts in the loss.

Up Next:

The Saints will continue their trip in Florida on Thursday (3/6) with a doubleheader against Wittenberg and Westminster (PA) scheduled for 9:00 and 11:15 A.M. at the Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont.