Winter Park, Fl.—The Mercyhurst Softball team earned a pair of wins as they finished a delayed a game and played two more at The Spring Games in Winter Park.
Against Northwood (L, 6-0)
The Lakers were able to finish their game against the Timberwolves that they started Tuesday afternoon but was delayed due to rain. When the game was delayed, Northwood had taken a 2-0 lead in the third inning on a two-run double by Delanie Grundman. The game was delayed in the top of the fourth.
When play resumed in the fourth inning this morning, Haley Frank walked with the bases loaded to force home a run and give Northwood a 3-0 lead. A three-run seventh inning sealed the win for the Timberwolves.
Mikaela Schramski, with the assistance of a full day of rest in the middle of her outing, pitched all seven innings for Mercyhurst.
Against Bloomfield (W, 8-3)
Morgan Hilty went the distance in the Lakers' first full game of the day, allowing just one earned run, walking three and striking out a pair along the way.
Bloomfield took advantage of early mistakes in the first inning to take a lead. After Hilty allowed a single and hit a batter earlier in the inning, Audrianna Ortiz raced around the basepaths to score from second base on a wild pitch. With a runner now on third, Daniela Vidal hit into a sacrifice fly to give the Bears a 2-0 lead.
Mercyhurst responded in the bottom of the second after Sarah Koscho singled, moved to second on a groundout and Hannah Rozanski reached on a fielder's choice that left runners on the corners. Kaci Alderson took Bloomfield pitcher Danielle Walters deep to put Mercyhurst on top 3-2.
The Lakers added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Brianne Egelston singled home Rozanski.
In the sixth inning, the Lakers loaded the bases with no outs. Egelston grounded out in the infield to drive home a run, Cheyenne Hindman doubled in two runs, and Allison Dejidas doubled home Hindman to make it 8-2. The Bears scored a run in the seventh as they tried to rally back, but ultimately fell 8-3.
Against Ashland (W, 1-0)
Thursday's finale consisted of a pitcher's duel, with Schramski back in the circle and taking on Ashland's Josie Duncan.
Ashland threatened in the bottom of the third inning, when Laney Eller led off with a walk and Lauren McMillin doubled to put runners on the corners. Schramski tightened up, striking out the next batter and inducing a flyout to end the inning.
Egelston doubled to start the next half-inning and was moved over to third on a groundout, but wound up stranded as the game remained scoreless. Schramski would not allow another hit.
In the top of the seventh, Dejidas took Duncan deep to right field, circling the bases to give Mercyhurst a 1-0 lead. Having done her job, Schramski gave way in the bottom half to Kaitlin Hoffner, who earned her third save of the season. Schramski allowed just three hits and two walks over six innings, striking out five along the way.
Up Next
The Lakers finish their spring trip with a pair of games against Stonehill College at 10 a.m. and the College of Staten Island at 12:15 p.m. Those games will take place at Auburndale in Jan Phyl Village, Florida.
