Softball Splits First Day of Space Coast Spring Games, Pick Up Win Over Grinnell

MELBOURNE, Fla. – The MCLA Softball team kicked off their 2025 season today at the Space Coast Spring Games hosted by the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) at the Space Coast Complex. The Trailblazers started the season with games against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils and the Grinnell College Pioneers.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
• Game #1: Lawrence Tech 11, MCLA 2
• Records: Lawrence Tech Blue Devils 5-5 (WHAC 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 0-1 (MASCAC 0-0)
• Series History: This was the first ever meeting between the teams.
• Game #2: Grinnell 9, MCLA 12
• Records: Grinnell College Pioneers 1-3 (Midwest Conference 0-0) | MCLA Trailblazers 1-1 (MASCAC 0-0)
• Series History: The all-time series between the teams is tied at 1-1, with the Pioneers winning the teams' first-ever meeting 3-1 on March 20, 1997.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Game #1
  • Lawrence broke out the bats early in the game, scoring six runs before the Trailblazers got on the board. The big hit was a two-run home run by Lily Morrissette in the top of the second inning. Morrissette would finish the game with three RBIs and three runs scored.
  • MCLA scored both of their runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run triple by junior second baseman Ella Staffier (Marshfield, MA). The top of the Trailblazers' order started the rally with two outs after junior infielder Hailey Peabody (W. Springfield, MA) beat out an infield single and moved to second on a single by senior outfielder Maddy Teta (Troy, NY), setting the stage for Staffier.
  • Peabody would finish the game 2-3 with a double and a run scored, while Teta would reach base in all three of her trips to the plate, adding two walks.
  • Junior Maggie Closinski pitched three innings of three-hit relief for the Trailblazers.
• Game #2
  • The Pioneers picked up an unearned run in the top of the first, but MCLA rallied back. In the bottom of the first inning Closinski tied the game at one with an RBI single to left field after Teta had doubled down the right field line. After moving to second on a wild pitch, Closinski was brought home by sophomore outfielder Smantha Wheeler (Agawam, MA).
  • In the bottom of the second inning, junior outfielder Alexandra Espel started the action for the Trailblazers with an infield single and moved to second two batters later on a single to center field by first-year first baseman Allee George. Peabody brought Espel home with a single into left center field. An error by the second baseman let Teta reach while George and Peabody both came around to score. After a wild pitch moved Teta to third base, junior second baseman Ella Staffier (Marshfield, MA) pushed the MCLA lead to 6-1 with a single back through the circle.
  • Grinnell started to scratch their way back to even with three runs in the third on two hits and a walk, aided by a pair of wild pitches, and then two more runs on a pair of singles and a triple in the top of the fifth inning.
  • In the bottom of the frame, MCLA restored their lead after the Pioneers went to their bullpen. Closinski led off with a double to left field, and Wheeler walked. Two batters later pinch hitter Madyson Torres (Dripping Springs, TX) scored both with a double into the gap in left. An infield bunt from George set runners at first and second before sophomore pitcher Julia Johansen (Pittsfield, MA) helped her own cause with a productive ground out to second that moved the runners along. Peabody then cleared the bases with a single through the left side of the infield.
  • A wild pitch moved Peabody to third, and Teta's RBI single through the right side plated her. Staffier capped the offensive barrage with a triple to center to make the score 12-6.
  • Grinnell plated a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on a single, a triple, and a sacrifice fly, and then got to within three runs with an RBI single by Elyse Pender.
  • Johansen (1-0) pitched four and two thirds, scattering eight hits and striking out three to pick up her first win of the season. Emma Trani took the loss for the Pioneers, falling to 0-1.

UP NEXT:

On Saturday, MCLA will again be in action at the Space Coast Spring Games, where it will face the Western Connecticut State University Wolves and the Hartford University Hawks. The first game is scheduled for 10 a.m.

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