CLERMONT, Fla. -- Simmons Softball fell to The College of New Jersey Lions 7-1 in the first game of the day but rebounded in the second, posting a 10-7 win over Wittenberg University at the Dot Richardson Spring Games at Foundation Academy Thursday morning.
Game Two: Simmons 10, Wittenberg 7
After Wittenberg put up one run in the first inning off a double by Rachel Ross and RBI single by Kaitie Harrison, the Sharks (6-2) scored five runs on three hits in the bottom half of the inning for an early lead. Emily Cunningham (Cotuit, Mass.) walked after a long at bat and scored when sophomore Heather White (Westfield, Mass.) drilled a double to left field. Christina Mulcahy (Cambridge, Mass.) singled to right field for the RBI and junior Jess Uschmann (Feeding Hills, Mass.) reached first on an error, which sent Mulcahy across home plate. First year Kat Guillotte (New Bedford, Mass.) walked and classmate Alison Gauvin (Whitefield, Maine) hit her first career double down the left field line to score Uschmann.
Simmons pitcher Danielle LeBlanc (Templeton, Mass.) struck out Shelby Knapp and the Sharks defense took care of Abby Baker and Casey Hobbs in the top of the second before adding three runs to their lead in the bottom of the second. First year Brianna Rastello (Salem, N.H.) started the Sharks ups with a walk and advanced to second on a singled by Mikaela Caracciolo (North Attleboro, Mass.). E. Cunningham reached first on an error to load the bases for the Sharks as White came to the plate. Continuing her hitting streak, White buried a ball to deep center field and picked up two RBIs as Rastello and Caracciolo came home. E. Cunningham scored the Sharks eighth run on a passed ball by the Tigers catcher.
Wittenberg started their comeback in the top of the third as Loren Combs singled and then advanced to second on a single by Laura Rose through the left side. Ross then singled down the right field line to score Combs and Harrison hit an RBI single to right field for the Tigers second run of the inning. With two outs, Kaela Hughes doubled to right field to score Ross and later scored on a passed ball but the Sharks caught Baker in a pickle for the final out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Jen Field (Windham, Maine) doubled down the left line and then scored on an error by the shortstop. E. Cunningham hit a triple to center field to score Caracciolo from first for what would be the Sharks final runs of the game.
The Tigers chipped away at the lead, as the Sharks walked Baker in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded and a home run by Ashlee Wright in the top of the seventh but the Sharks kept their lead and went on to win, 10-7.
Sharks junior pitcher Lauren Backhaus (Windsor, Conn.) recorded her fourth win of the year, coming in relief for LeBlanc in the fourth inning. The pair combined for seven strikeouts. Hughes takes the loss for the Tigers.