CLERMONT, Fla. - Beloit's softball team nearly won both its games Thursday afternoon, falling 8-7 in nine innings to Plymouth State, before defeating Fredonia 11-5 in the nightcap for its first win of the 2023 campaign.

Against Plymouth State (4-6), Beloit never trailed until the final run crossed the plate. The Buccaneers took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Maddie Moser and Kaylee Witte each drew bases loaded walks to get Beloit on the board. Plymouth State tied things up in the bottom of the sixth when they scored on a pair of RBI doubles.

After a scoreless seventh, the teams headed to extra innings, which saw Beloit score three times in the top of the eighth, two scoring on a singly up the middle from Siddalee Meyers, and the other coming when Jess Coppe scored on a wild pitch. Plymouth State then matched Beloit's three runs in the bottom of that frame, sending the game to the ninth, which saw Beloit score two more runs on a single by Stella Lutes to take the lead once more. Plymouth State then loaded the bases with one out, and cleared them with one swing of the bat on a single to left to win the game.

Beloit (1-7) recorded eight hits in the contest, with two coming from Isabel Johnson. Samantha Friedrichsohn pitched well in the no decision, tossing five scoreless innings, while scattering six hits.

The Buccaneers followed that heartbreaking loss with a win in their second game of the day, In a game that saw them lead for the majority of the contest. After Fredonia (0-10) got on the board first on a solo home run in the top of the first, Beloit answered with three runs of their own in the bottom half of that frame. They got on the board with a two-run double by Kaylee Witte, which was followed by an RBI double off the bat of Sydney Harbison. Fredonia took the lead again with three runs in the third, but Beloit matched that in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-run homer off the bat of Witte, and scoring on a wild pitch.

Beloit added to their lead in the later innings, scoring three times in the fifth on run scoring doubles by Angela Donath and Harbison, and an RBI single off the bat of Lutes. They scored two more runs in the sixth, before Fredonia tacked on a run in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Five of Beloit's hits went for extra bases. Witte finished a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a walk, four RBI, and three runs scored. Harbison added a pair of hits and two RBI. Helena Harrison allowed two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out three in a seven-inning complete game to earn the victory.

Beloit will be in action again on Friday when they'll wrap up their spring trip against Minnesota-Morris and Roger Williams University at 9 and 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, respectively. Those games will be played at DiamondPlex in Winter Haven, Fla.