Softballs Wraps Up Spring Break Trip with Pair of Setbacks

LITTLE RIVER, S.C. -- The Bridgewater State University softball team wrapped up its ten-game trip to the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in Myrtle Beach on Thursday with a pair of setbacks to Waynesburg University and Penn State Altoona.

The Bears (2-8) dropped a 9-1 decision in six innings to Waynesburg and fell to Penn State Altoona by a margin of 8-4.

Waynesburg 9, Bridgewater State 1 (6 Inn.)

In the 9-1 setback to Waynesburg, the Bears broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning. Sophomore left fielder Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) reached on an error, stole second and scored on an RBI single by sophomore shortstop Ashley Habib (Haverhill, Mass.). That, however, would be the lone hit of the game for Bridgewater State.

Waynesburg rallied in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore second baseman Grace Higgins (Canonsburg, Pa.) singled, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and trotted home with the tying run on an RBI triple by sophomore centerfielder Mackenzie Kearns (Elizabeth, Pa.). Kearns then raced home on a wild pitch to put the Yellow Jackets on top, 2-1. Following a pitching change, freshman right fielder Bella DeMark (Carnegie, Pa.) singled to keep the inning alive. Freshman pinch runner Jasmine Demaske (Waynesburg, Pa.) stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch to make it a 3-1 game.

The Yellow Jackets capitalized on three BSU errors in the sixth to push across six unearned runs. Senior catcher Brin Hunter (West Alexander, Pa.) capped off the frame with a walk-off two-run double.

Freshman righthander Autumn Stemple (Morgantown, W.Va.) worked the first four innings for the Yellow Jackets but did not factor in the decision. Hunter allowed a run on a hit with a walk and six strikeouts. Sophomore lefthander Sydney Wilson (Pentress, W.Va.) picked up the win in relief. Wilson (2-1) retired all six batters she faced including four strikeouts.

Kearns (2-3, R, RBI) and junior designated hitter Ella Brookman (Washington, Pa.) finished with two hits apiece for Waynesburg. Brookman went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Junior righthander Madelyn Klingel (Windsor, Conn.) pitched well in the loss for Bridgewater State. Klingel (1-4) gave up two runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings with no walks and a pair of strikeouts. She retired 13 of the first 15 batters she faced.

Penn State Altoona 8, Bridgewater State 4

Penn State Altoona (4-4) won a back-and-forth tilt by a final score of 8-4. The Lions overcame a 4-3 deficit with a five-run fifth inning.

Sophomore righthander Alyssa Fisher (Lock Haven, Pa.) went the distance in the circle to record her first win of the season. Fisher allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Fisher also excelled at the plate for the Lions as she went 2-for-3 with a triple, an inside-the-park home run, a walk, two runs and four RBI.

Bridgewater State pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 lead. Freshman catcher Emily Eastman (Cranston, R.I.) led off the inning with a base hit and later scored when she stole home as part of a double steal. Two batters later, senior first baseman Olivia Silva (Somerset, Mass.) rapped an RBI single to center to plate sophomore left fielder Emily Marcotte (North Dighton, Mass.) with the go-ahead run.

Down by a run in the bottom of the fifth, a two-run triple by freshman second baseman Madelyn Maynard (Towanda, Pa.) put the Lions on top for good. Two batters later, Fished connected for a three-run, inside-the-park home run to make it an 8-4 game.

Maynard went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.

Sophomore righthander McKayla Cusack (West Haven, Conn.) worked the first three innings for the Bears in the circle but did not factor in the decision. Cusack allowed just one unearned run on five hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

BSU senior designated hitter Kerrin McLaughlin (Haverhill, Mass.) reached safely twice in three plate appearances as she went 1-for-2 with hit by pitch, a run, and an RBI.

The Bears are off until Tuesday, March 21st when they host a doubleheader with UMass Dartmouth. Game one is slated to get underway at 2:30.