Softball suffers two losses on second day of spring training

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Carlow University softball suffered two losses on the second day of The Spring Games in Florida Monday.

The Celtics fell, 4-0, to Washington & Jefferson College and lost a 6-5 walk off against Western New England University in the nightcap.

vs. W&J: L, 4-0

The Presidents (3-2) scored four runs in the top of the second inning and held the Celtics scoreless the remainder of the game to come away with a win in the first game of the day.

A single up the middle and a bunt single put runners on for W&J in the top of the second. A one-out single to center field loaded the bases, and back-to-back singles brought in four runs for the Presidents. Carlow made a pitching change, and the Celtics made it out of a bases-loaded situation, but the damage was already done.

The W&J defense retired the Celtics in order in the bottom of the second and third innings and forced Carlow to hit into a double play in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to prevent the Celtics from gaining any ground.

Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) hit 3 for 3 and McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) went 2 for 3 in the effort. Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits with one strikeout in two innings of work. Samantha Tressler (Brownsville, Pa./Brownsville Area HS) and Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) combined to pitch the remainder of the game.

Anna Luxenberger hit 2 for 3 with an RBI and Hannah Allen recorded two RBI at the plate for the Presidents. Taylor Dunn earned the complete game win, scattering six hits and picking up four strikeouts.

vs. Western New England: L, 6-5

Carlow mounted a comeback in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game at 5-all in the nightcap, escaping several bases-loaded situations along the way.

The Golden Bears (4-2) took the lead early, bringing in three runs in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded, a fielder's choice and two ground outs allowed runners to score as the Celtics made the necessary plays to get out of the inning.

Pitcher Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) made it out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth with a popup and a strikeout, and Pierce brought in an unearned run in the top of the fifth with a single to center field. Bella Cartieri (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area HS) reached on an error, and a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Bicko moved Cartieri into scoring position for Pierce.

Carlow cut Western New England's lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) hit a lead-off single up the middle, and a two-out error put runners on first and second for the Celtics. Bicko helped her own cause with a single up the middle to bring in the unearned run.

The Golden Bears added a bit more distance in the bottom half of the frame, as a bases-loaded single up the middle drove in two runs gave Western New England a 5-2 advantage.

Carlow made its final stand in the top of the seventh. A new pitcher in the circle for the Golden Bears walked two and a ground out put runners on second and third with two outs. Another walk loaded the bases, and a fourth brought in a run for the Celtics and prompted yet another pitching change.

An error in the next at-bat afforded the Celtics two more runs, but Schumacher was caught stretching the play at third base by Western New England's catcher to end the inning. Tied at 5-5, the Golden Bears had one last opportunity to score. A one-out single put a runner on, and two throwing errors in the next at-bat allowed that runner to clear home plate for the walk-off win.

Pierce went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a walk, and Egley went 2 for 4 in the effort. Wiggs was saddled with the loss, allowing one run on two hits with a strikeout. Bicko started in the circle, allowing five runs and scattering 11 hits with one strikeout and one walk.

Riley Kane earned the win as the final pitcher in the circle for the Golden Bears, but Ava Blanchard pitched six complete innings, allowing two unearned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Alex Ferriouolo went 3 for 3 with a triple, and Kim Baumann hit 2 for 4 with an RBI. Shea McDaniel went 2 for 4 with a double in the win.

The Celtics return to the diamond with games against Penn State Berks and Wheaton (Mass.) Wednesday.