Softball splits pair of games on first day of spring training

CLERMONT, Fla. --- Carlow University softball opened spring training 1-1 Sunday with a win over Penn State Brandywine to start the day and a loss to University of Northwestern Ohio in the nightcap.

Game 1 vs. PSU Brandywine: W, 8-4

The Celtics (1-3) got on the board first with an unearned run to start the game.

A double, single and a costly Carlow error put the Lions (1-1) ahead, 2-1, in the bottom half of the frame.

With runners on second and third in the next inning, Morgan Pierce came up with a big strikeout to get Carlow out of a jam.

The Celtics tied it up, 2-all, in the top of the third when Paige Ziggas reached on an error.

Morgan Nedley dropped a sacrifice bunt to move Ziggas over to second, who made it to third on a throwing error by the centerfielder after she was almost caught attempting to stretch the play.

Megan Pollinger singled through the hole at short to bring in the unearned run.

The Celtics retired the Lions in order in the bottom of the third, and the favor was returned in the top of the fourth.

Carlow gained a 3-2 lead in the fifth on a two-out, RBI double to centerfield off Nedley's bat.

A hit and an error in the bottom half of the frame allowed PSU Brandywine to tie the game, 3-3, with another unearned run.

Carlow broke free from the tie in the sixth.

Alayna Mintz walked and Marissa Schuckman laid down a bunt single to put runners on first and second with just one out.

Amelia Herzer laid down another bunt to move them over, and Morgan Pierce helped her own cause with a two-run single up the middle to give Carlow a 5-3 advantage.

Back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly to deep center field afforded the Lions a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Carlow tacked on three insurance runs in the top of the seventh.

Bella Cartieri hit a two-run single up the middle, and Herzer later singled through the hole at second to score Carlow's final run of the game.

Amanda Hu allowed a hit in the bottom of the inning, but came up with a big strikeout and forced two fly balls to end the game.

Pollinger went 2 for 2 with an RBI, while Nedley and Morgan Pierce each hit 2 for 3 with two RBI apiece.

Cartieri ended the game with two RBI.

Morgan Pierce earned the win after allowing three unearned runs on four hits with four strikeouts in five innings of work.

Hu garnered the save, allowing one run on three hits with two strikeouts in the final two innings.

Game 2 vs. UNOH: L, 9-2 (6 inn.)

A hard-hitting UNOH team and some costly errors saw the Celtics on the losing end of a run-rule game in the nightcap.

The Racers (6-5) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first after scoring four runs on four hits and two Carlow errors.

UNOH retired the Celtics in order in the bottom of the inning and tallied three runs on two hits and an error to lead, 7-0, in the second.

The Racers' defense retired Carlow in order through the next three innings, adding two runs on three hits in the sixth to extend their lead to 9-0.

Carlow scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth.

Mackenzie Egley walked to start the inning, and Jillian Durst singled through the hole at short to put runners on first and second for the Celtics.

A fly ball to right field put runners on the corners, but Durst was caught stealing to give the Racers a second out.

Pollinger singled through the hole at short to score Egley, but UNOH forced a ground out to end the game in six innings due to the mercy rule.

UNOH held Carlow to just two hits.

Clara Niglio took the loss after allowing seven runs (two earned) on eight hits with one strikeout in four innings of work.

Tatum Wiggs pitched the final two innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

The Celtics return to Hancock Park to continue spring training with two games on deck tomorrow.