CLERMONT, Fla. - The Saint Anselm College softball team dropped their third and fourth-straight games this afternoon, dropping a five-inning 8-0 decision to Davenport University and a 2-1 loss at the hands of the University of Mary at the National Training Center. With the two defeats, the Hawks fall to 4-6 overall on the season.
In the third and final game between both teams, the Davenport University Panthers captured the season series, edging Saint Anselm two games to one on the Florida spring trip. The Panthers leapt out to the early 1-0 lead, as center fielder and lead-off batter Amber Getty scored on an error by second baseman Kat Scafidi (Hudson, N.H.), tacking an unearned run on the pitching line of Alexis Bogdanovich (South Portland, Maine.)
Davenport hung up a crooked number in the top half of the fourth inning, plating six of their eight runs against two Saint Anselm pitchers. A two-run home run by right fielder Katie Cornman drove home senior Karlee Despres to increase the Panthers lead to 3-0. Two ensuing walks and a single allowed by pitcher Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine) were forced home by an RBI single by second baseman Morgan Greenfield to further extend the Davenport advantage.
An RBI groundout by Kayla Gonyea in the top half of the fifth inning plated Cornman for the game's eight and final run.
Bogdanovich was touched for four earned runs through 3 2/3 innings of work while Trask allowed three earned runs while retiring only one batter. Pitcher Hayley Leclaire (Hudson Falls, N.Y.) pitched a perfect inning of relief, walking only one Panthers batter to escape without allowing an earned run in two consecutive appearances. For Davenport, Sam Cole struck out two Hawks batters in one inning of work before yielding to Despres, who struck out seven in the final four innings.
In the second game of the day, the Hawks fell to the Marauders of the University of Mary by a 2-1 score. The Eagles captured their first run of the day after infielder Melissa Gonzalez reached base via an error charged to shortstop Nicole Boucher (Woonsocket, R.I.). The ensuing RBI double by Brittney Hadley allowed the unearned run to score from first base for the game's first run.
With two outs in the inning, designated player Desiree Smith reached base after an error by the Hawks third baseman. Outfielder Jessica Alvarado, who reached base after a single back to the pitcher, scored following the ensuing throwing error.
Saint Anselm was able to score in the top half of the seventh inning, as first baseman Lauren Galavotti (Marion, Mass.) collected her second hit of the afternoon, driving in catcher Noelle Lussier (Worcester, Mass.) on the play. The game would end, however, as pinch runner Kasey Moran (Medford, Mass.) was thrown out at home plate on the back end of the play.
Pitcher Paige Cormier (Rochester, N.H.) drew the tough luck loss, allowing no earned runs alongside only three hits and four strikeouts. Pitcher Rachel Davis collected her fourth victory of the season, striking out four Saint Anselm batters in seven complete innings of work.
NOTABLES: Pitcher Hayley Leclaire has worked two consecutive scoreless outings and leads the team with a 2.25 earned-run average, allowing only one earned run in four innings of work…The Hawks have stolen 14-of-16 bases on the season as opposed to their opponents 8-of-9 success rate…Saint Anselm C/1B Lauren Galavotti has recorded four hits in her last eight at-bats (4-for-8, .500) alongside one run batted in…Pitcher Tayla Trask has held left-handed batters to an .095 batting average (2-for-21) while Paige Cormier has held southpaws to a .214 clip (6-for-28)…Left fielder Mary Fay leads the team with a .500 batting average (4-for-8) with runners in scoring position, including two hits in three at-bats (.666 average) with a runner on third base with less than two outs.
The Hawks return to action Saturday, Mar. 3 as they conclude the fifth and final day of their Florida trip with two games before traveling back to Manchester, N.H. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by joining the Hawks on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
