CLERMONT, Fla. – The Saint Anselm College softball team continued play on its spring break trip as they fell to both the University of the Sciences (2-1) and Fort Hays State (5-4), both by a one-run margin at Hancock Park in Clermont, Fla.
With the losses, the Hawks will dip to 1-7 for the 2013 campaign, while USciences improves to 2-3 and Fort Hays bumps to 9-2.
The Devils of the University of the Sciences jumped on the scoreboard early with two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Saint Anselm starter Tayla Trask (Lincoln, Maine). After the Devils' leadoff hitter reached on an error to start the game, Erin Summers bunted down the third base line for an infield single, advancing a runner to third. Next to the plate was Haley Kavelak, who hit a blast that deflected off Trask and landed at third for a single to plate the first Devil run. USciences added another run on a double steal, before Trask shut them down to close out the inning.
Saint Anselm cut the Devil lead in half in the top of the fourth inning when Monique Gauthier 
(Canton, Conn.) connected with a fastball and crushed it down the left field line for a solo home run.
The score stayed 2-1 until the seventh inning, as the starting pitchers from both sides were fairly dominant throughout the game.
After the first two outs in the seventh, pinch-hitter Hayley Lombard (Coral Springs, Fla.) hit a line drive down the right field line for a single and was awarded second base on umpire's interference. This was where the rally ended though, as the Devils retired the next Hawk batter to end the game.
Trask went all six innings for the Hawks only giving up one earned run on five hits, while striking out six.
In the second half of the day's double header, Saint Anselm dropped a 5-4 decision to Fort Hays in eight innings.
Saint Anselm struck first in the bottom of the second by scoring three runs. Following a single from Lauren Galavotti (Marion, Mass.) and walks from Gina Treglia (Fairfield, Conn) and Olivia Story (Middleton, Mass.), Julie LeClair (Taunton, Mass.) laced a double down the left field line driving in both Galavotti and Tregilia. After a walk, the bases were loaded for Kasey Moran (Medford, Mass.), who hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Story and giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers tied the game in the top of the fourth when Maddie Holub's solo home run was followed by a two-run home run by Amanda Vaupel.
Saint Anselm got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when LeClair smoked her first career homerun over the left field fence.
Fort Hays threatened in the top of the sixth when the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs. After the Tigers pushed across a run on a sacrifice fly, Saint Anselm starter Paige Cormier (Rochester, N.H.) was able to close the door without any further damage.
The score remained 4-4 until the eighth inning, when the NCAA tiebreaking rules came into effect.
With a runner on second base and no outs, Fort Hays' Courtney Dobson sent a bunt down the right side and beat the first baseman to the bag, getting the infield bunt-single and advancing the runner to third. The Tigers then executed a double steal which saw the go-ahead run score.
Saint Anselm's attempt to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth was cut short when Galavotti's line drive to left field was caught and relayed back to second base for a double play. The next batter grounded out and the Tigers hung on for the 5-4 victory.
Cormier threw eight innings giving up four earned runs, while striking out four. Julie LeClair went 2-3 with three RBI.
The Hawks will take on Saint Xavier for a double-header, March 9 at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to continue their spring break trip. Stay up-to-date with the latest news, including game previews and recaps, directly from the Saint Anselm College athletic department by liking us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/STAHawks) and following us on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/STAHawks).
