Softball Record First Win to Split Day Two at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The MCLA Softball Team continued their spring break road trip with a pair of games at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic. Sarah Williams pitched a one-hit complete game shutout in the first game of the day as the Trailblazers run-ruled Alfred State. In game two, a tough fourth inning led to a 10-2 loss to the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Sunday, March 10, 2024
• Game #1: Alfred State 0, MCLA 9
• Records: Alfred State Pioneers 0-1 (AMCC 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 1-2 (MASCAC 0-0)
• Game #2: MCLA 2, Pitt-Bradford 10
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 1-3 (MASCAC 0-0) | Pitt-Bradford Panthers 3-2 (AMCC 0-0)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Game #1
  • Sarah Williams pitched a gem of a one-hit complete game shutout, picking up her first win of the season and evening her record at 1-1.
  • After retiring the Pioneers 1-2-3 in the top of the first, the Trailblazers wasted little time getting into the score column. After Maddie Teta led off with a double and advanced to third on an error, Hailey Peabody promptly brought her home with an RBI groundout.
  • Following Williams again retiring Alfred State 1-2-3, MCLA tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the second inning. Maggie Closinski led off with a walk and stole second. Two batters later, Justina Pardi was hit by a pitch, and Kristie Zator walked to load the bases. Closinski was off with the contact of a ground ball from Cinderella Khoury back to the pitcher, forcing the pitcher to go for the out at first and allowing the run to score. Maddie Teta then walked to load the bases for a second time, and Ella Staffier forced Pardi home with an RBI walk.
  • In the third inning, the Pioneers got what turned out to be their only batter to move beyond first base when Tiante Murray walked and eventually made her way to third base. However, Williams stranded her there, inducing a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
  • After setting the side down in order for the third time in four innings, the Trailblazer offense went to work in the fourth inning, putting up their largest crooked number of the early season. They scored six runs on seven hits. Back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Teta, Staffier, and Hailey Peabody scored the first three. A fielder's choice that ended without getting an out, put Madyson Torres on first and scored Staffier. Closinski then doubled home Peabody, and two batters later, Pardi singled home Torres.
  • Alfred State broke up the no-hitter in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out single to center field, but Williams then slammed the door shut by inducing a lazy flyball to center to close out the Trailblazers' first win of the year.
• Game #2
  • MCLA was first on the scoreboard in game number two, scoring a run in the top of the first without the benefit of a hit. Teta led off the game by working a walk and promptly turned the walk into a double by stealing second. A pair of wild pitches then brought her the rest of the way around and provided a 1-0 lead.
  • Pitt-Bradford evened the score with a run on two hits in the bottom of the second inning, only to see the Trailblazers respond with another run of their own in the top of the third. It was Teta's legs again setting the score up for the second time in the game, working her second walk and stolen base combination in three innings. Teta then scored from second when the third baseman's throw on an infield single by Peabody went wide of the mark, putting MCLA ahead 2-1.
  • Sadly, the lead for the Trailblazers as the Panthers pitcher Bri Heller settled in and only allowed one more hit, while her offense awoke to the tune of nine runs on seven hits.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The complete game shutout in the game with Alfred State was the first collegiate shutout for Williams and her second complete game of the season.
• The win over the Pioneers also represented the first win for co-head coaches Amanda Beckwith and Heath Isaacson.

UP NEXT:

On Monday, MCLA will be back in action as they continue their spring break road trip at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic with a game against Crown College. The first pitch against Crown is scheduled for 1 p.m. The previously scheduled 3 p.m. game with Lesley University has been canceled.

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