Softball Sweeps Day #2 in Florida
Clermont, FL — The Curry College softball team picked up their first wins of the season on Monday afternoon, first rallying from an early deficit to defeat the University of Pittsburgh–Greensburg, 8–6, and then winning an extra inning thriller over Blackburn College, 8-7 in 8 innings.
Game #1:
The Colonels would capture their first win of the season after using a five-run fourth inning to swing momentum in their favor and holding off a late push from Pitt.-Greensburg (1–1).
Curry opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Cailene Dupras ignited the offense with an inside-the-park home run, showcasing her speed on the bases, and giving the Colonels an early 1–0 lead.
Pitt.-Greensburg responded in the top of the third with a big inning of its own. A two-run double from Shelby Cloak put the Bobcats ahead, and moments later Kenzie Lang launched a two-run home run to center field to cap the four-run frame and give Pitt.-Greensburg a 4–1 advantage.
The Colonels answered immediately in the fourth inning with their most productive stretch of the game. Kailey Collins-Fiore started the rally, eventually coming around to score on an RBI single from Morgan Barmash. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Lindsay DesRoberts delivered a clutch two-run single to tie the game at 4–4.
Curry continued to apply pressure, and Dupras struck again with a two-run single up the middle that brought home DesRoberts and Lizzy Helmar, completing the five-run rally and putting the Colonels in front, 6–4.
Curry added to its lead in the fifth inning when Adrianna Capozzi grounded out to shortstop, allowing Isabella Monsanto to cross the plate for a 7–4 advantage. Another insurance run in the sixth saaw Dupras record her fourth RBI of the day with a single to right field that scored Karlie Pontes, extending the lead to 8–4.
Pitt.-Greensburg attempted a comeback in the seventh inning, scoring twice on an RBI single from Lang and an RBI groundout by Brenna Altman, but Ana Tsonis was able to limit the damage and secure the 8–6 win.
In the circle, Tara Goldman earned the victory in relief for Curry, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. Tsonis closed the game out to record the save, working the final two innings.
Offensively, Dupras led the Colonels with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Barmash also contributed three hits, including two doubles and an RBI, while DesRoberts added a key two-run single during the decisive fourth inning.
Game #2:
In the following game, Curry completed a dramatic comeback, which saw extra innings and three runs in the top of the eighth inning to defeat Blackburn College, 8–7. With the win, the Colonels improved to 2–2 on the season, earning their second victory of the day during their spring trip in Florida.
Curry struck in the opening inning when Morgan Barmash drove in Renee Gonneville with a groundout to shortstop, giving the Colonels a 1–0 lead. Blackburn quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning as Kharma Giles delivered an RBI single to tie the game at 1–1.
The Colonels regained the lead in the third inning with a pair of runs. Grace Habib brought home Olivia Roy with a sacrifice bunt, and Ana Tsonis followed with an RBI single to left field that scored Karlie Pontes, pushing Curry ahead 3–1.
Blackburn however surged in front during the fifth inning with a four-run rally. Giles stole home to begin the scoring, and Taryn Millburg later added an RBI single to tie the game. Kailynn Kruep then delivered a two-run single to center field, giving the Beavers a 5–3 advantage.
Curry began chipping away in the sixth inning when Lindsay DesRoberts lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Izzy Henderson, cutting the deficit to 5–4. Needing a run in the top of the 7th to keep things going, Habib place an RBI single into shallow right field to bring home Morgan Saraceno, tying the game at 5–5 which then lead to extras.
In the eighth inning, Curry capitalized on its opportunities to reclaim the lead. Lizzy Helmar doubled to left field to score Tsonis and give the Colonels a 6–5 edge. Moments later, Tara Goldman's bunt would create some chaos as she brought Helmar home and later scored herself during the play in a wild sequence, extending Curry's lead to 8–5.
Blackburn attempted a final rally in the bottom of the eighth. An error allowed one run to score before Caroline Gibson added an RBI single to trim the deficit to 8–7. However, the Colonels were able to record the final outs and secure the extra-inning victory.
Goldman led Curry offensively with a 3-for-4 performance and an RBI, while Helmar contributed a double and an RBI. Habib added two RBI for the Colonels, and Tsonis and Barmash each drove in a run as well.
In the circle, Isabella Monsanto earned the win in relief, tossing four innings while striking out four. Kassidy Lobb started the game for Curry and allowed just one run over four innings of work.
Despite committing four errors in the field, Curry's offense produced 10 hits and came through with timely hitting late in the game to secure the win.
