The Beloit College softball team won yet another game in comeback fashion to open a doubleheader header Thursday evening at the Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Florida. The Buccaneers came back from a two-run deficit to top Saint Mary's College (IN) before falling to a solid Belhaven squad 5-3.
In the first game of the day the Belles took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the top of the third and used a RBI triple to make it 2-0 in the top of the fifth.
The Bucs were once again up for the task for the comeback with
Emily Stapay jump starting the surge in the bottom of the fifth with a double to center field.
Alyssa Morris traded places with Stapay on a shot down the left field line to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.
Bre Noack laid down a bunt to move Morris to third and
Madi Christine dropped a ball into center field for the base knock and an RBI to knot the game 2-2.
A soft liner off the bat of
Stephannie Lopez fell in for an infield single to open the bottom of the sixth and she advanced into scoring position on
Cora Aubert's single through the left side. After a flyout, Morris loaded the bases on a single up the middle. Another infield single for Noack had all the runners safe with Lopez tallying the go-ahead run.
The Belles threatened in the top of the seventh with a one-out single but a great heads up play by Morris on a hard ground ball in the next at bat got the lead runner on her way to second for the second out. Saint Mary's registered another single but
Maddy Pfortmiller got out of the inning with a fly out to notch the win.
Stapay and Morris led Beloit at the plate combining to go 4-5 with an RBI and two runs scored in the game.
Pfortmiller continues to impress in the circle scattering 10 hits over seven innings of play with four strikeouts and zero walks.
Aubert took to the circle in game two against a rolling Belhaven squad that boasts a 14-3 record and an eight game win streak. Aubert and the Buccaneer defense held a powerful Blazers offense to five runs in the contest.
Belhaven scored in each of the first three innings to take a 5-0 lead. The Bucs came back with a single run in the fourth on
Maty Nowakowski's RBI single to right field that plated Christine. Beloit threatened again in the seventh loading the bases, scoring one on a wild pitch and pulling to within two on a nifty Christine single that dropped just inside the foul line in back of third base but the Blazers held on for the win.
Four Bucs registered hits in the game including Christine, Nowakowski, Lopez and Stapay. Despite the loss, Aubert tossed a solid game in the circle scattering nine hits and allowing five runs over six innings of work against a team that has averaged 7.5 runs per contest during their current streak.
The Bucs will wrap up play in The Spring Games Friday opening the day against Pitt-Greensburg at 1:30 followed by Mount St. Joseph at 4 p.m. ET.
**Beloit College issued a statement earlier this week suspending all athletic contests both home and away at the conclusion of the Bucs' spring trip until March 30. More information will be posted when available.
