COCOA, Fla. – The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College softball team split Saturday's doubleheader against non-league competition, ending the day with a 1-0 victory over the No. 17 team in the country, West Florida.
Ranked eighth in NCAA Division II according to the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association, Saint Anselm improves to 1-2 on the year. The Hawks fell to Florida Tech (5-2) in extra innings to open play on Saturday before responding with a shutout over the nationally-recognized Argonauts.
Down to their last out against Florida Tech, the Hawks rallied to tie the game at two with a clutch two-RBI double by Brianna Belisle (South Burlington, Vt.). The Panthers locked down the victory with a booming walk-off double to deep right center, scoring the placed runner at second
Against the Argonauts, sophomore Haile Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) earned her first collegiate victory in the circle, blanking one of the nation's top teams. Freshman Ava Caputo (Waterford, N.Y.) drove in the lone run of the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, scoring junior Meghan Gibbons (Litchfield, N.H.) from second base.
Saint Anselm returns to action Sunday, Feb. 13, taking on Barry at 9:30 a.m. and then Wingate at high noon.
GAME ONE: Florida Tech 3, Saint Anselm 2 (8 innings)
Making her collegiate debut, freshman Sophia DiPippo (Cranston, R.I.) kept the Panthers off the scoreboard through four innings. The first batter of the bottom of the fifth inning, however, touched Saint Anselm for a deep home run to left field that broke the shutout.
With two outs in the inning and the bases cleared, the Hawks conceded three consecutive base hits – the last one drove in the second run of the game for Florida Tech, placing the Hawks down by a 2-0 margin.
In the top of the seventh inning with the Panthers looking for a victory, junior Kylie Fitzpatrick (Danville, N.H.) led off the frame with a single up the middle. After a Hawks pop-up to shortstop, sophomore Gracie O'Hara (Shrewsbury, Mass.) picked up a hit to left field that placed runners on first and second.
Florida Tech was able to get the next Saint Anselm batter on strikes, setting up a pressure situation for Belisle with the game on the line. The lefty delivered, lining a deep drive to right-center field that scored O'Hara and junior Jess Persechino (Torrington, Conn.), who pinch-ran for Fitzpatrick earlier in the inning.
The next batter, Caputo, singled to the outfield but an outstanding play by the Florida Tech center fielder cut down the go-ahead run, Belisle, at the plate in a cloud of dust.
After the Hawks retired Florida Tech in the bottom of the seventh, Saint Anselm was unable to move the placed runner over from second. The Hawks led off the inning with a strikeout and two fly balls to left field, sending the game to the bottom of the eighth inning.
Dipippo got two quick outs, including a failed sacrifice bunt attempt to lead off the inning. Florida Tech scored the runner from second on a loud double to center field that was well over the Hawks defense, winning the game in walk-off fashion.
Dipippo pitched well for Saint Anselm, despite drawing the loss. In her collegiate debut, she allowed just two earned runs and eight hits across seven-and-two-thirds innings. The pitching tandem for the Panthers struck out four and scattered five hits across seven full innings.
GAME TWO: No. 8 Saint Anselm 1, No. 17 West Florida 0
Saint Anselm opened the game with two runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the first, but West Florida tip-toed around danger to keep the game scoreless.
The Hawks struck in the bottom of the second as Gibbons, who drew a one-out walk, came around to score the game's only run following a Caputo single to center field. Saint Anselm could not create insurance, however, leaving a pair of runners on base for the second consecutive inning.
West Florida had runners on base in four of the innings, but Hicks stood tall, conceding just four hits and striking out a batter to earn her first collegiate victory.
O'Hara led Saint Anselm with two hits across three at-bats in the game.
