CLERMONT, Fla. – Simmons softball (3-6) closed out its Florida schedule on Friday afternoon falling to Dominican University (Ill.). early in the morning before dropping a close contest against regional foe Thomas College.

GAME 2: Thomas 4, Simmons 2

Following their loss to the Stars in their first game of the day, the Sharks were threatening to score first in the top of the first. Junior centerfielder Raya Anderson roped an opposite field triple over the right fielder's head to lead off the. Two batters later Ally Hyde worked a one-out walk to give Simmons runners at the corners and only one out. But the Sharks were unable to push across that first run following two pop outs.

An inning later, Simmons did manage to score first. Junior Leah Berdeen reached first on a walk then scampered to third two batters later after sophomore Piper Kinney reached on an error to turn the lineup back around to the top. Anderson came through with some clutch two out hitting a hard chopper to short and in the back door came Berdeen with the game's first run.

Making her third start in the circle, Hyde kept the Terriers off the scoreboard through the first two innings. However, the Oregon native ran into trouble in the bottom of the third, giving up a leadoff walk to open the inning, that came around to score three batters later. Thomas added to its lead, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1.

The Sharks cut the deficit in half in the top of the fifth. After Hyde reached on a walk, senior right fielder Jordyn Rubin poked an opposite field double down the third baseline to send Hyde to third. With runners in scoring position and only two outs, sophomore Trinity Payne lifted a fly ball to right field to plate Hyde with the second run and make it a 4-2 ball-game. 

With their backs against the wall, Simmons threatened to tie the game after Anderson reached on a bunt single. She quickly got herself into scoring position with a steal of the second, but was unable to come around to score. 

GAME 1: Dominican (Ill.) 8, Simmons 1

In their first game of the day the Sharks scored first against a tough Dominican pitcher, who had only giving up one run so far on the young season. Anderson opened the home half of the first inning with a walk. After advancing 60 feet on a ground out, Anderson got on her horse and came around to score on an opposite field single by Hyde.

Dominican managed to tie the game two innings later before their offense kicked it into game in the middle innings. The Stars scored twice in the fourth and fifth innings to extend their lead before adding another three in the top of the seventh.

SIMMONS HIGHLIGHTS

• Sophomore Ally Hyde went 2-for-5 with an RBI on the day and finished the work week with a staggering .435 (10-23) batting average while driving in three runs.
• Junior Raya Anderson went 2-for-4 with a triple and two stolen bases against Thomas College.
• Sophomore Trinity Payne tossed 2.1 innings of relief against Thomas while striking out one to keep the Terriers at bay.

UP NEXT
Simmons returns to the diamond next weekend when they open up at home with a double-header against Husson University. First pitch is at noon.