LEESBURG, FLA.—The Carthage College softball team opened their 10-game Florida swing with back-to-back games against Buena Vista University and Rutgers University-Newark. A
Darian Pelsor home run, followed by a
Marissa Maldonado RBI-double wasn't enough for Carthage as they fell to Buena Vista 5-2. The Lady Reds outhit Rutgers-Newark 9-8, but couldn't muster a run in a 5-0 loss to the Scarlet Raiders.
The losses drop Carthage's overall record to 2-2, 0-0 CCIW.
Buena Vista 5, Lady Reds 2
Marisa Schmidt's first-inning RBI-single gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead. She also executed a fourth-inning double-steal that advanced her to second base, which sent home Michaela Mason from third base to push their lead to 2-0.
Pelsor's fourth-inning home run narrowed the Lady Reds' deficit to 2-1. The fifth inning saw
Brooke Sefcik and
Lauren Jones each reach base on errors before
Shannon Walsh's single loaded the bases. Maldonado capitalized with a double that scored
Alessia Knowski (Jones' pinch runner) to tie the game 2-2.
Cheyanne Boland responded for the Beavers with a two-run home run in the sixth inning to push their lead to 4-2. Buena Vista tallied their final run in the seventh inning off a Carthage error to secure a 5-2 victory.
Katie Herron, who pitched the first five innings for the Lady Reds, notched eight strikeouts and surrendered one earned run in the no-decision.
Rutgers-Newark 5, Lady Reds 0
The Scarlet Raiders tallied all five of their runs in the second inning as RBI's from Morgan Walizer, Sam Held and Kelly Yusko gave Rutgers-Newark a 4-0 lead. Kayla Gallo put the finishing touches on the Scarlet Raiders' five-run inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Morgan Schweitzer to make the score 5-0.
Kayla Uhwat-Vicicondi and
Emmily Zinkiewicz each collected two hits for the Lady Reds the rest of the contest. Pitchers
Ellie Bernero and
Amy Goldsmith teamed up to hold Rutgers-Newark to no runs in the final 4 2/3 innings to keep the score at 5-0.
Seven Lady Reds registered a hit in the contest.
Carthage will return to action tomorrow, Saturday, March 18 at the Sleepy Hollow complex in Leesburg, Fla. The Lady Reds will face Lake Forest College at 9:00 a.m. (ET), and Allegheny College at 11:30 a.m. (ET)