Softball Rallies Late but Falls Short Against Crown College

NAPLES, Fla. – The MCLA Softball Team continued their spring break road trip this afternoon at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic. Seven different Trailblazers combined for 10 hits but a five-run seventh inning by Crown College was too much for MCLA to overcome.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Monday, March 11, 2024
• Score: Crown College 9, MCLA 7
• Records: Crown College Polar Bears 1-8 (UMAC 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 1-4 (MASCAC 0-0)

HIGHLIGHTS

• MCLA extended their streak to scoring first to three games, scoring a first-inning run without the benefit of a hit. Maddie Teta led off the game by working a walk and moving to second on a passed ball. She then came around to score from second base on a wild pitch.
• The lead wouldn't hold for long, however, as the Polar Bears responded with a three-run second inning and then extended it with a run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the frame.
• Maggie Closinski started the MCLA rally with a one-out single to left and promptly stole second. Hannah Mitchem battled through to earn a walk, and then two batters later came around to score from first on a single up the middle from Justina Pardi, who also scored Closinski.
• A rough top of the seventh inning saw Crown extend their lead by scoring five runs on five hits as they batted around, bringing the score to 9-3.
• The Trailblazers showed heart and didn't roll over despite the six-run deficit. Ella Staffier and Lora Woyton started the inning off with a pair of walks. Staffier was gunned down trying to steal third before Maddy Torres worked MCLA's third walk to start the inning. Kristie Zator came on to run for Torres, and Closinski singled to load the bases. A fielder's choice back to the pitcher by Mitchem erased Woyton at the plate but left the bases loaded for Hailey Peabody. Peabody drove a sinking line drive into left field that skipped under the left fielder's glove and rolled to the wall, clearing the bases and allowing Peabody to come all the way around to score just under the tag at the plate and cut the Polar Bear lead to two.

UP NEXT:

On Wednesday, MCLA will be back in action as they continue their spring break road trip at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic with games against Coe College and St. Joseph's University-Brooklyn. The first pitch against Coe College is scheduled for 9 a.m. and the St. Joseph's-Brooklyn game will follow at 11 a.m.

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