WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Saint Anselm College softball team defeated Caldwell University, 5-4, in a dramatic comeback win to earn their third victory of the season at The Spring Games on Saturday. The Hawks fell to Wayne State College in game one by a final score of 6-1 before defeating the Cougars in the final game of the day to improve to a 3-8 overall record.
UP NEXT:
- The Hawks compete against the University of D'Youville and the University of Indianapolis on Sunday, March 10 for the third day of The Spring Games. Game one versus D'Youville is set for a 11:15 a.m. start time.
Score: Saint Anselm 1, Wayne State 6
Win: S. Ryan (0-4)
Loss: G. Lucka (3-3)
Records: Saint Anselm 2-8; Wayne State 4-20
Location: Winter Haven, Fla.
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 1):
- Wayne State jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first scoring five runs off three hits. Haylee Weber hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in the first run of the game. The Wildcats cashed in four more runs in the inning featuring an RBI single by Lauren Laudick to score Emilee Marth and make it a 5-0 game.
- Junior Sam Wiberg (Exeter, N.H.) produced the first hit for the Hawks with a double to start the top of the second inning. Senior Gracie O'Hara (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with a single to put runners on the corners but Saint Anselm stranded two after Sami Felt struck out a batter for the third out of the inning.
- The Wildcats tacked on another run in the bottom of the second inning as Annika Manzanares brought home Jordyn Rochholz to put Wayne State ahead 6-0.
- It wasn't until the top of the seventh inning that the Hawks cashed in a run which was kicked off by a single from freshman Caitlyn Duquette (Bedford, N.H.). Freshman Katie Tournas (Fairfield, Conn.) then hit a single to put two runners on base for Saint Anselm. Duquette was able to advance to home on a wild pitch but the Wildcats ultimately secured the 6-1 victory as Grace Lucka struck out the final two Hawks batters.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Wayne State produced four six runs off eight hits while Saint Anslem recorded put up one run off five hit. Both teams earned one error apiece in the game.
- Wiberg went 2-for-2 at the plate for the Hawks while Duquette posted the only run after going 1-for-1 in the contest. O'Hara and Tournas also recorded a hit apiece in the game for the Hawks.
- Freshman Sam Ryan (Tewksbury, Mass.) picked up the loss for Saint Anselm after pitching the first inning allowing five earned runs off three hits. Freshman Kendra Lee (Endicott, N.Y.) checked into the game throwing five innings and allowing one earned run off five hits along with one strikeout.
- This marked the third-ever meeting between these two programs with Wayne State earning their first win against Saint Anselm to make it 2-1 in the all-time series.
Score: Saint Anselm 5, Caldwell 4
Win: H. Hicks (3-2)
Loss: M. Burns (0-1)
Records: Saint Anselm 3-8; Caldwell 1-1
Location: Winter Haven, Fla.
Date: Saturday, March 9, 2024
HOW IT HAPPENED (Game 2):
- Caldwell cashed in the first run after Quinn singled to score Nazionale and give the Cougars the early 1-0 edge. Junior Ava Caputo (Waterford, N.Y.) picked up the first hit for the Hawks with a single to right field in the bottom of the first.
- Senior Halie Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) struck out two Cougars in the following two innings to keep Caldwell off the scoreboard. in the bottom of the third, Caputo notched a two-RBI double bringing home junior Stephanie Tardugno (Methuen, Mass.) and junior Julia Howse (North Reading, Mass.) to put Saint Anselm ahead 2-1.
- The next inning, Caldwell evened the game at 2-2 after Vondracek reached home on a fielding error before Hicks struck out her sixth batter of the afternoon. The Cougars answered in the top of the fifth inning thanks to a two-run home run by Riendeau to give Caldwell a 4-2 advantage.
- The Hawks defense came up big in the sixth inning as Hicks struck out another batter followed by an immediate throw down to the second base from junior catcher Alyssa Wironen (Leominster, Mass.) to catch Colon stealing for the double play. Saint Anselm rallied back in the bottom of the seventh as Wironen and senior Gracie O'Hara (Shrewsbury, Mass.) hit back-to-back singles to put runners in scoring position.
- Senior Hannah Ramer (Rehoboth, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice and picked up the RBI after freshman Brooke Tardugno (Methuen, Mass.) checked into the game as a pinch runner to score, cutting Caldwell's lead to one run. Howse tied the game up at 4-4 with an RBI single to right field before Ramer tagged home after a Cougar fielding error to seal the comeback win by a final score of 5-4.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Both Saint Anselm and Caldwell each recorded eight hits in the game. The Hawks made three errors while the Cougars only produced one error.
- Caputo led the Hawks offense going 2-for-3 at the plate highlighted by a two RBI double. Howse also went 2-for-3 in the game earning one RBI while Ramer also picked up an RBI for the Hawks.
- Hicks earned her third win of the season for Saint Anselm after throwing all seven innings allowing three earned runs on eight hits. She struck out seven Cougars and gave up just two walks after facing 32 batters.
- This marked the third official meeting between these two programs who last saw each other at The Spring Games back in 2022. The Hawks are now 2-1 in the all-time series against the Cougars with today's 5-4 victory.
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