The Beloit College softball team dropped a doubleheader to Mount Mary to open the season. The Buccaneers fell 5-3 in game one and 6-3 in the nightcap facing the Blue Angels on the turf at Sportscore Two in Loves Park, Illinois.
The Bucs opened the scoring in game one as Madi Christine drew a walk in her first at bat of the season. The speedster moved into scoring position swiping second and came around to score on Callie Dutton's hard shot to left that fell in for a base knock.
The Blue Angels responded in the top of the second. Mount Mary capitalized on a Buccaneer miscue using small ball to move a runner into scoring position and then a timely single up the middle knotted the game 1-1.
Kaitlynn Taft led off the bottom of the inning with a sneaky bunt that put the pressure on the defense reaching first on an error. Alyssa Boltik followed with a single through the left side. Taft surprised the defense again stealing third with Boltik advancing to second on the throw. Bre Noack notched the RBI with a groundout to the right side of the infield that plated Taft.
The teeter-totter battled continued with the Blue Angels plating two in the top of the third to claim the lead 3-2. The Bucs were up to the task as Christine opened Beloit's side of the frame with a double down the left field line. Alyssa Morris advanced Christine to third on a sacrifice and one batter later Ashley Lambert drew a walk to put runners on first and third with two outs. Taft's popup was mishandled by a MMU infielder allowing Christine to score and tie the game once again, 3-3.
The defenses held the opposing offenses at bay until the top of the sixth. Mount Mary capitalized on a one-out ground rule double scoring on a single on the next at bat to take the lead 4-3.
Beloit threatened in the bottom of the sixth advancing a runner to third with just one out but the Bucs were unable to plate the run. The Blue Angels added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to make it 5-3. The Bucs had runners on second and third in their final opportunity but couldn't push a run across.
Lambert led the Bucs in the batter's box going 2-for-3 and adding a walk. Boltik went the distance on the mound striking out seven and issuing just one walk in the contest.
The beginning of the nightcap featured a sloppy start as the teams traded multiple errors to head into the second inning with Mount Mary leading 4-2.
The Bucs cut the lead to one in the bottom of the third. Stephannie Lopez opened the inning with a single down the left field line and moved into scoring position on Christine's sacrifice. Lambert came to the plate with two outs and capitalized with a single to left field that plated Lopez from second to make it 4-3.
That score held until the top of the seventh when MMU was able to push two more across to make it 6-3.
The Bucs refused to fold with Taft opening the final frame with a walk. Dani Strejc followed with a single to shallow left center but the Blue Angels were able to tally the next three outs to take the game.
Lopez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in second game of the doubleheader. Maty Nowakowski added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate for the Bucs. Alyssa Morris took the loss in the complete game on the mound.
On Deck: The Bucs will host Wisconsin Lutheran for a doubleheader Monday, March 4 at Sportscore Two. First pitch of the twinbill is slated for 3 p.m.
