Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
CLERMONT, Fla. – The Saint Anselm College softball team opened its season by splitting its first two games, falling 3-1 to Ferris State and topping Seton Hill 5-4 on Sunday.
In the opener, Ferris State (1-0) pitcher Stacy Thompson held Saint Anselm (1-1) to one unearned run on four hits in seven innings of work. Thompson struck out three batters and walked two in the complete game win.
The Bulldogs scored single runs in the first, second and seventh innings and were led offensively by Alexx Astorga, who went 3-for-4 with a run and drove in another. Megan Jean reached base three times and knocked in a run.
Trailing 2-0 after an inning and a half, the Hawks scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the second. Shannon McLaughlin started the inning by reaching on an error and moved to third on a one-out double by Michaela Criscione. After a lineout, Amanda Bickford plated McLaughlin before being caught stealing second to end the inning.
Sam Hennequin went the distance on the mound for Saint Anselm, giving up three runs on seven hits and struck out three. Criscione reached base all three times at the plate, going 1-for-1 with a pair of walks, while Bickford was 2-for-3 with an RBI.
In game two, Seton Hill (0-1) carried a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning but Saint Anselm scored five in the seventh to pull out a come-from-behind win.
Bickford was 3-for-4 at the dish with a run, Karoline Leavitt had a two-run double and seven players had at least one hit for the Hawks.
Saint Anselm had five of its nine hits in the game in the decisive top of the seventh inning. With runners on first and second and one away, Leavitt delivered a two-run double and Megan Murrell followed with a run-scoring double to tie the game at 3-3.
After a popout, Criscione reached on an error that scored Murrell to put the Hawks up 4-3. The next batter, pinch hitter Leindra Wilson, doubled in Criscione to give Saint Anselm a two-run cushion they would hold onto for the win.
Paige Hertzog was 3-for-3 with a run and an RBI in the loss for Seton Hill.
The Hawks are back in action on Monday, Feb. 29 with games against Missouri-St. Louis and the University o Mary at 9 and 11 a.m. in Clermont, Fla.
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