COCOA, Fla. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College softball team posted a 4-3 loss to Barry University on Friday in the squad's season-opening game.
The Hawks (0-1), ranked eighth in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Coaches Poll, lost in walk-off fashion to the Buccaneers, who move to 5-1 overall.
Saint Anselm led by a 3-2 margin heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. A lead-off double preceded a sacrifice bunt, a walk and a stolen base, setting up a booming walk-off double by Mac Stone-Folmar to deep left-center field to end the game, clearing the bases.
The Hawks led for the majority of the game despite collecting just four hits. Barry logged six hits, but committed four errors and left a grand total of 14 runners on base throughout the game. Sophomore Haile Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) conceded just two earned runs across four-and-two-thirds innings – she was making her first collegiate start for Saint Anselm.
The Hawks jumped out to the early 2-0 lead in the first inning of the season. Senior Kylie Fitzpatrick (Danville, N.H.) led off by reaching on an error and she was later driven home by a loud double down the left field line by senior Bailey Cain (Wellington, Fla.). An infield base hit by Jill Chelton (Carlisle, Mass.), the first hit of her career, scored Cain, who moved to third on a groundout earlier in the frame.
With two outs in the fourth inning, Barry had a baserunner steal second base. She would later come around to score the team's first run of the game – a single through the left side allowed the runner to round third and the throw from left field was off-line, allowing the run to score.
The Hawks upped their lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth inning as sophomore Brianna Belisle (South Burlington, Vt.) hit a lead-off single through the left side and advanced to second on a misplay by the left fielder. Fitzpatrick singled again to put two runners on for Cain. Batting after an Irwin groundout moved Fitzpatrick to second, a hard-hit line drive to right field was reeled in by the right fielder to score the third Saint Anselm run.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Barry strung together a leadoff single and a walk before Saint Anselm got two quick outs. The Hawks issued three consecutive walks, including one with the bases loaded, to reduce the Saint Anselm advantage to 3-2. Junior Ava Vincequere (Shrewsbury, Mass.) came on in relief, getting the final out of the inning with the bases loaded.
Not only has Barry knocked off the defending national champions in West Texas A&M, the Buccaneers have downed the eighth-ranked Hawks and No. 17-ranked West Florida in the team's season-opening game. Pitcher Cassandra Lee earned the win for the Buccaneers, allowing just one earned run across seven innings.
Vincequere took the loss in her collegiate debut, conceding two earned runs on the walk-off double in one-and-two-thirds innings of work. Freshman Julia Howse (North Reading, Mass.) also made her collegiate debut in the game.
Saint Anselm takes on Florida Tech and West Florida on Saturday, Feb. 12 starting at 11 a.m.
