CLERMONT, Fla. -- Simmons Softball opened day two in Clermont, Fla. with a win against the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays, 8-5, and followed with a hard fought loss to The College of New Jersey in extra innings, 7-4 at the National Training Center this afternoon.

The Sharks took the lead early against the Blue Jays when Christina Mulchay (Cambridge, Mass.) picked up an RBI as freshman Hannah Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) crossed home plate. After a scoreless inning from the Blue Jays, Simmons' offense exploded in the second with freshman Alaina DeNoncour (Johnston, R.I.) doubling to left field and then scoring off another left field double from freshman pitcher Amanda Cordeiro (Fall River, Mass.). Cailin Pagel (Dorchester, Mass.) singled to right field, driving in Cordeiro before senior Amanda Gould (Kingston, N.H.) stole home. Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) hit a three-run homer to center field to end the seven-run inning.

Elizabethtown scored three runs in the fifth off a double by Elly McCarthy. The Blue Jays added two more runs in seventh off a double by Jessica White but the Sharks defense was solid as the team picked up their first win of the season.

In the second game of the day, the Sharks faced The College of New Jersey Lions in a thrilling, nine-inning match-up. Simmons junior Ari King (Westford, Mass.) led off with a single to center field. With the bases loaded, TCNJ pitcher Alex Carisone walked H. Cunningham to put the Sharks on the scoreboard.

The Lions tied the game at one in the third off a double from Ashley Sogluizzo, sending Corinne Minicozzi home from second base. Simmons responded with a triple from Mulcahy, who scored Katie McCarthy (Falmouth, Maine). Simmons took the lead again in the fifth inning off a home run to center field by E. Cunningham, her second of the day.

The sixth inning proved pivotal as TCNJ capitalized on a Sharks error to score two runs, tying the game at three. With a scoreless seventh inning, the teams went to an international tie-breaker in the eighth inning.

TCNJ placed Kelly Hommen on second base, who later scored on a Sharks error. But the Sharks returned the plate with H. Cunningham placed on second base. Gould buried a line drive into left field to tie the game again at four apiece.

The Lions scored three runs in the ninth to take the lead, 7-4 with strategic base running and well-placed bunts by Hommen and Sogluizzo. Simmons loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but was unable to convert.

"I was very proud with the way we played today. It was great to see our bats come alive in the first game and to get our first victory. The second game was a tough loss in extra innings, but it was great to see the fight and determination our team had; we just came up a little short this time. We need to stick to our game plan and continue to work hard and good things will happen," said coach Anne Hennigan.

The Sharks return to the field tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. against Susquehanna University and Ohio Northern University, respectively, at the National Training Center.