Softball Splits a Pair with Some Big Cats to Close Out the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic

NAPLES, Fla. – The MCLA Softball Team wrapped up their spring break road trip with a pair of games at the Gene Cusick Collegiate Classic. Kristie had a two-RBI double and a run scored in game one, Helping the Trailblazers to a 7-1 victory over the Rochester Institute of Technology. Game two was a tight pitcher's duel, with MCLA being held without a hit until the seventh inning, but Lora Woyton went toe to toe with her counterpart, only allowing an unearned run to Emerson College in the bottom of the sixth.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Thursday, March 14, 2024
• Game #1: RIT 1, MCLA 7
• Records: Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers 2-3 (Liberty 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 2-6 (MASCAC 0-0)
• Game #2: MCLA 0, Emerson 1
• Records: MCLA Trailblazers 2-7 (MASCAC 0-0) | Emerson College Lions 5-3 (NEWMAC 0-0)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Game #1
  • MCLA scored first in this game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Hailey Peabody started the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a groundout from Maddy Teta. Maggie Closinski was hit by a pitch, and she and Peabody both scored on a two-run RBI double from Kristie Zator. After Justina Pardi moved Zator along with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, Lora Woyton brought her home with a single to left.
  • The Tigers responded with what would turn out to be their lone run on an RBI single from Lillian Rienstra that scored Bailey Kehl. The Trailblazers came back in the bottom of the frame with a run of their own without the benefit of a hit. Madyson Torres walked to start the inning and moved to second on a fielder's choice by Peabody. Teta then walked to set up runners on first and second for Closinski. Closinski grounded the ball to the shortstop, who tossed to second to nab Teta, but when the second baseman attempted to throw out Peabody, who had rounded third, the throw was wide of its mark, allowing an unearned run.
  • MCLA then added another run in the bottom of the fourth when Justina Pardi scampered home after Torres's shallow pop-up to right field was caught by the second baseman.
  • Two more insurance runs were tacked on by the Trailblazers in the sixth inning. Pardi started the rally with a leadoff double after getting a second life when the RIT catcher dropped a foul pop along the first base line. Woyton then smashed a single through the third baseman, and Pardi moved over to third. Two batters later, Ella Staffier walked to load the bases. Two batters after that, Peabody beat out a single through the left side of the infield to score Pardi, it initially appeared that Woyton was thrown out at home, but was awarded the base due to the catcher blocking the plate before she was in possession of the ball.
  • Both pitchers went the distance for their teams, but it was Sarah Williams who was awarded the win to improve to 2-3 after allowing only three hits. Morgan Best took the loss for RIT to drop to 0-2.
• Game #2
  • The second game of the day between MCLA and Emerson College was a fast-paced pitcher's duel. Woyton threw six innings of three-hit ball, only allowing a single unearned run while striking out five for the Trailblazers. However, she was bested by the Lions' Caleigh Sheehan, who had a perfect game through the first 4.1 innings and didn't allow a hit until Peabody singled through the right side with one out in the seventh. The win for Sheehan kept her record clean at 3-0, while Woyton took the tough luck loss to fall to 0-2.
  • The Tigers scored the game's only run in the bottom of the sixth without getting a hit. Carly Rosenberger led the inning off by reaching on an error and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sam Zannotti. Two batters later, she moved to third on a ground ball to short by Makenzie Killough, but the throw to first was high and up the first base line, allowing Rosenberger to score.

UP NEXT:

MCLA will be back in action after some time off when they travel to Albertus Magnus College on March 23^rd for a non-conference matchup with the Falcons at the Shea Softball Complex. The first pitch is scheduled for noon.

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