Zator has big day, but Softball drops two at Gene Cusik Classic

Naples, FL—The MCLA softball team lost a 7-6 heartbreaking extra-inning decision today to St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) in their first game, and fell 14-2 against Western Connecticut today in the Trailblazers second game of the day. MCLA falls to 1-7 on the season.

Game One         St. Joseph's (Brooklyn) 7             MCLA 6               (8 innings)

MCLA's Kristie Zator would go 2-for-3 with 5 RBI's including a two-run home run in the top of the 3^rd to make it 5-2 and a sacrifice fly in the top of the 5^th to make it 6-4.

The Trailblazers would take that two-run lead into the bottom of the 7^th and had St. Joe's down to their last out, but a Nicole Trani double that would score Maeve McKeon and an Isabella Calabrese single that brought in Trani would tie the game at 7-7 and to send it to extra-innings.

After the Trailblazers were unable to score in the top half of the 8^th, it would be an Emily Burroughs sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning that brought in Lauren Van Der Kamp that secured the 7-6 win for the Bears.

Trani finished 4-for4 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Burroughs, McKinnon, Bella Gomez and Kristen Oddo all had multiple hits for St. Joe's. In addition to Zator, Hailey Peabody had a strong game for MCLA going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases.

Bears' reliever Leila Heller (W, 1-0) pitched 5.2 innings allowing one earned run on three hits and strikeout four batters to earn her first win of the season. MCLA starter Sarah Williams (L, 0-2) went the distance (7.1 innings) allowing six earned runs and 16 St. Joe's hits.

Game Two         Western Connecticut 14              MCLA 2               (5 innings)

MCLA would commit 8 errors in their second game falling to Western Connecticut 14-2 in five innings. The Wolves would take advantage of 3 Trailblazer errors in the top of the 1^st to go up 5-0.

A Kristie Zator (2-for-3, RBI) double that led to Hailey Peabody (1-for-2, 1 R) scoring would get one back in the bottom half and another Zator base hit in the 3^rd would drive in Ella Staffier to make it 5-2. But that would be it for the MCLA offense.

West Conn would add one in the 4^th and eight in the top of the 5^th to make it 14-2.

Benni Tucci (3-for4, 3 R, RBI), Isabella Pincince (2-for-3, 2 R), Carly Cordova (2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI's), Jada Miconi (2-for-3, 2 R, RBI) and Alexis Resto with three RBI's le the Wolves offensive attack.

West Conn starting pitcher Kaitlyn Dean (W, 1-0) pitched 4 innings allowing two earned runs on six hits. MCLA starter Gabriella Cozzolino (L, 0-3) allowed just one earned run but gave up eleven hits in 4.2 innings pitched.

The Trailblazers will conclude their Florida schedule tomorrow with games against SUNY Delhi at 9am and William Patterson at 11am.