CLERMONT, Fla. – The Saint Anselm College softball team split its doubleheader on its first day at The Spring Games on Friday.

The Hawks (6-2) grabbed a 3-1 win over the University of Bridgeport (3-9) by a 3-1 score before falling in game two to nationally-ranked Washburn University (19-3) by a 12-1 score in five innings. Saint Anselm meets Dominican University (N.Y.) and Saint Cloud State University in a twinbill on Saturday, Mar. 4. Those games are slated for 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. starts.

Junior Gracie O'Hara (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and senior Kylie Fitzpatrick (Danville, N.H.) led the Hawks offense with four hits apiece on the day. Fitzpatrick also collected two runs batted in which were a team-high. Six other Hawks registered one hit between the doubleheader.

Junior Halie Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) claimed her fourth win of the 2023 season after allowing just one run on eight hits in a complete game effort. Hicks fanned eight batters in the game one win.

Sophomore Sophia DiPippo (Cranston, R.I.) suffered the loss from the circle for the Hawks in game two.

GAME ONE: Saint Anselm 3, Bridgeport 1

Senior Kate Irwin (Milford, Mass.) led off the bottom of the first inning with a single and quickly stole second before advancing to third on a passed ball. Irwin came around to score the game's first run on a wild pitch, giving the Hawks a 1-0 lead through the first inning.

Saint Anselm extended the lead to two on a double by Fitzpatrick. O'Hara singled to open the bottom of the fourth inning and would advance to second a sacrifice bunt, laid down by sophomore Alyssa Wironen (Leominster, Mass.) which set up the double from Fitzpatrick.

The Hawks would add a third run in the bottom of the fifth to push the lead to 3-0. Senior Jess Persechino (Torrington, Conn.) registered a single to lead off the inning before advancing to third on a throwing error on a bunt single by junior Hannah Ramer (Rehoboth, Mass.). Irwin would reach on a fielder's choice which allowed Persechino to cross the plate.

Taylor Yates recorded a single in the top of the sixth inning before reaching second on a wild pitch which set up Alex Hughes with a scoring chance. Hughes would convert with a RBI single, to push the score to 3-1.

The Purple Knights would threaten in the top of the seventh inning as Madison D'Amato doubled to lead off the inning and would reach third on a fly out. A pair of walks would load the bases but a fielder's choice and a fly out would cap the 3-1 win for the Hawks.

GAME TWO: No. 18 Washburn 12, Saint Anselm 1 (five innings)

Washburn took an early 3-0 in the top of the first inning. A single and a pair of walks brought Jaden LaBarge to the plate who singled up the middle to score two before Autymn Schreiner singled home a third run in the top of the first.

The Hawks responded quickly with a run in the bottom of the first inning as Fitzpatrick plated sophomore Ava Caputo (Waterford, N.Y.). Caputo tripled to open the Hawks half of the inning. Saint Anselm continued to threaten but a double play with the bases loaded and a strike out got the Ichabods out of the jam.

After scoreless second and third innings, the Ichabods would strike for six runs on six hits and one Hawks error, taking a 9-1 lead to the middle of the fourth inning.

The Hawks would go three-up, three-down in the bottom of the fourth before Washburn tacked on three more to lead by the eventual final score of 12-1.