Softball comes back twice but unable to hold on against Nazareth and John Jay

Naples, FL—The MCLA Softball team held late leads today but were unable to hold on in either game falling 10-7 to Nazareth in game one and 16-8 to John Jay in game two. The Trailblazers fall to 0-4 on the season.

Game One         Nazareth 10       MCLA 7

Down 3-0 after one inning of play MCLA's Madyson Torres would single down the left field line to get things started in the top of the 2^nd. The Trailblazers would then draw four consecutive walks to cut the lead to 3-2.

After Ella Staffier stole home to tie the game, Sarah McMahon would score on a ball put in play by Hailey Peabody to give MCLA lead at 4-3.

The bats would remain largely silent for both teams until the top of the 6^th when a Lidia Flores double to left-center field would knock in Madison Teta and Peabody to stretch the Trailblazer lead to 6-3. One batter later Torres would drive in Cinderella Khoury to make it 7-3.

Unfortunately for MCLA, ten Nazareth batters would reach base (4 singles, 5 walks and 1 fielder's choice) in the bottom half of the 6^th resulting in 7 runs to put the Golden Flyers up 10-7.

Nazareth pitcher Emily Daciw (W, 1-0) would retire the Trailblazers in order in the top of the 7^th to secure the win. Daciw pitched a complete game allowing 6 earned runs on eight hits, striking out seven batters. Trailblazer reliever Gabriella Cozzolino (L, 0-1) would be charged with the loss.

Maddy Spakowski (2-for-3, 2 RBI's) and Cassidy Hoffmier (1-for-4, 2 RBI's) would pace the Nazareth offense. MCLA's Kristie Zator (2-for-3), Madyson Torres (3-for-4, RBI) and starting pitcher Lidia Flores (1-for-3, 2 RBI's) led the way of the Trailblazers.  

Game Two         John Jay 16        MCLA 8

John Jay would score five runs in the top of the 3^rd to find themselves up 6-1 but MCLA would get one back in the bottom half to make it 6-2 after three.

After keeping the Bloodhounds off the board in the top half of the 4^th, the Trailblazers would come storming back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead, 8-6.

A two-run double by Ezmeralda Albright that drove in Gabriella Cozzolino and Natalie Rich was followed by a go-ahead two-run homer by Madison Teta to make it 7-6. Hailey Peabody would then double and score on a Madyson Torres base hit to put MCLA up 8-6 heading to the top of the 5^th.

Once again however the Trailblazers fell victim to a couple of late big innings as John Jay would put 4 runs up in the 5^th and another six in the top of the 6^th to walk away with the 16-8 victory.

John Jay was led by Jordyn Prince (2-for-6, RBI), Maleea Gallaspy (3-for-4), Angelina Schelles (3-for-3, 3 RBI's) and starting pitcher Jailene Santiago who went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI's from the plate and earned the win on the mound going 5 innings, allowing seven earned runs on ten Trailblazer hits to improve to 4-1.

MCLA was led offensively by Peabody (2-for-3, 3 runs scored) and Torres (2-for-3, 2 RBI's) as well as Teta, Flores and Albright who each had 2 RBI's. Starting pitcher Sarah Williams (L, 0-1) went 5 1/3 innings allowing 9 earned runs on fifteen hits.

The Trailblazers are back in action tomorrow taking on Wilmington (Ohio) at 9am and Alfred State at 11am. Both games will be played at the North Collier Sports Complex in Naples, Florida.