MSMC Blue Knights Close Florida Trip With Loss

KISSIMMEE, FLA. – The Mount Saint Mary College Softball team finished off its 10 game trip in Florida on Friday with a 5-1 loss to Springfield and a tight 2-1 defeat to Transylvania. Sophomore Amanda Almodovar totaled five hits over the two contests, including three against Springfield.

Game 1: Springfield 5 – Mount Saint Mary 1

In Friday’s opener, the Knights returned to their quick starting ways with a run in the top half of the first inning. After back-to-back singles from Shannon Sommer and Almodovar, the Knights scratched out their only run of the game when Almodovar scampered home on a two out error. The Knights later had a runner thrown out at home to end the inning.

Trailing by a run, Springfield pushed across two runs in the bottom of the first to pull in front for good in the game and added two more runs in the second and a single run in the sixth to close out the win. Kirsten Drobiak doubled home the tying run in the first and Gabby Alfieri later singled home Drobiak with the eventual game winning run.

In the two run second, Talia Loda delivered a run with a sacrifice fly and Drobiak struck again with a two-out run scoring single that moved the Pride in front 4-1. Drobiak finished off a strong day at the plate with a run scoring single in the sixth that closed out the scoring in the game.

Hits in the game were even at 9-9, with Drobiak leading the way for Springfield with a 3-for-3 effort with a run and three driven in. Almodovar paced the Knights after going 3-for-4 with the team’s only run. Sommer finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate and Kathryn Eiler produced a pair hits, including a double.

Bridget Bennett suffered the loss for the Knights, working 5.0 innings. She surrendered just two earned runs on eight hits while striking out four. Loda picked up the win for Springfield, moving to 5-0 on the season. She allowed a single unearned on nine hits and struck out three Knights.

Game 2: Transylvania 2 – Mount Saint Mary 1

The Knights got on the board first in the second game of the day as well, moving in front 1-0 on an Eiler triple in the second frame. Following a one out walk to Taylor Canto, Eiler drove her home with a triple down the left line to open the scoring in the game.

The Knights maintained the lead until the top of the fifth when Transylvania scored its only two runs of the game. The first three Pioneers of the inning reached base and both runs crossed on a pair Mount Saint Mary miscues.

Almodovar and Eiler both finished with two hits for the Mount with Canto scoring the team’s only run of the game.

Cindy Connoly worked a complete game in the loss for Mount Saint Mary and did not allow an earned run. She allowed five hits and struck out four as she lowered her season earned run average to 1.00.

Mount Saint Mary closed the southern swing with a 3-7 record. The Knights return to action in the Northeast when they travel to RPI on March 22. The non-conference doubleheader in scheduled for 3:00 p.m.