Leesburg, FL-The Mount Saint Mary College (MSMC) Knights softball team (0-5) fell to Marywood University (3-0) by a score of 3-2 in a hard-fought game played on a sunny day today. They then took on Kean University (7-2) and while the offense was putting in the work, the Knights found themselves on the wrong side of the win column.
Game 1
Despite the loss, the Knights showed resilience throughout the contest, battling back after conceding an early run in the bottom of the first inning.
The Knights responded in the top of the third inning. With one out,
Laura Dentato reached first on an error and advanced to third.
Samantha Bendig then drove in Dentato with a double to close the gap in the score 3-1.
MSMC added another run in the top of the fourth inning.
Riley Norwood was hit by a pitch and advanced on a fielder's choice.
Chloe Graham reached first on a fielder's choice and followed that up by stealing second.
Kristen Tellier grounded out to second and drove in Graham. The Knights got themselves within one, but unfortunately that was where the score stayed the remainder of the game.
The pitching performances on both sides were noteworthy. Senior pitcher
Bridget Morris (0-3) went six innings for the Knights, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out nine batters.
Offensively, the Knights were led by
Samantha Bendig who went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.
Kristen Tellier also added a single and an RBI.
Mount Saint Mary College
• Hits: 7
• Runs: 2
• Errors: 0
Marywood University
• Hits: 5
• Runs: 3
• Errors: 1
Game 2
Kean got on the board early, plating two runs in the top of the first inning. MSMC went on to respond with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Freshman
Olivia Ferara singled and stole second before scoring on a single by
Samantha Bendig.
The score remained 2-1 until the top of the fourth inning when Kean exploded for four runs. The Knights wouldn't go down without a fight, though. In the bottom of the seventh inning, they rallied for two runs. Ferara singled again and advanced to third on a single by
Laura Dentato.
Sophia Reed reached on an error, and
Allison Kenney followed with a two-run single to make it a 6-3 game. However, Kean was able to retire the next three batters to secure the victory.
"We are getting better every game," said MSMC Head Coach Sam Howe. "We have confidence the wins will come we just have to keep working as a team."
Offensively, the Knights were led by Ferara who went 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Dentato and Bendig each added two hits and a run scored.
In the circle, freshman pitcher Grace Macdonald (0-1) took the loss. She allowed six runs on six hits over four innings of work.
Bridget Morris came on in relief and pitched three scoreless innings.
The Knights will look to bounce back Thursday when they take on Saint Joseph's College of Maine in game 1 and then Springfield College in game 2.
Mount Saint Mary College
• Hits: 9
• Runs: 3
• Errors: 2
Kean University
• Hits: 8
• Runs: 6
• Errors: 1
