Softball splits first pair of games at spring training in Florida

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Carlow University softball split its first pair of games at The Spring Games in Florida Sunday.

The Celtics lost 8-4 to Skidmore (N.Y.) College and shutout St. Mary's (Ind.) College 10-0 in five innings to end the day.

vs. Skidmore: L, 8-4

Junior pitcher Tatum Wiggs (Boron, Calif./Boron HS) hit her first collegiate home run – a solo shot over the left field fence – to tie the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second.

The Thoroughbreds (2-0) took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth after a lead-off double and a two-out single to center field. A single and a wild pitch kept the inning going, and a single to left field drove in the final run of the inning before Wiggs picked up a strikeout to end the inning.

Carlow returned the favor in the bottom half of the frame. McKenna Pierce (Leechburg, Pa./Leechburg Area HS) drew a walk to start the inning, and Wiggs hit a single to center field to put runners on first and second. Taylor Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) pinch ran for Wiggs, and Bella Cartieri (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area HS) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third with just one out on the board.

Mackenzie Egley (Shelocta, Pa./Armstrong HS) singled to right-center field to bring in a run and later scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-all. Haley Bicko (Johnstown, Pa./Greater Johnstown HS) landed a two-out double to left-center field to give Carlow a 4-3 advantage, and Anna Schumacher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin HS) took over in the circle for the Celtics to pitch her first collegiate inning in the fifth.

Neither team scored through the next two innings, and Skidmore retired the Celtics in order in the bottom of the sixth, dragging that momentum into the top of the seventh.

The Thoroughbreds took advantage of an error and strung together two doubles and two singles to score five runs (four unearned) to gain an 8-4 lead. Megan Pollinger (Coraopolis, Pa./West Allegheny Senior HS) singled in the bottom of the inning, but Carlow could not get anything going to make a comeback.

Wiggs hit 2 for 3 with an RBI and allowed three earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts in 4.1 innings in the circle. Schumacher suffered the loss after allowing five runs (one earned) with four walks in 2.2 innings.

Shayne Cleeve earned the win for the Thoroughbreds, allowing just one hit and walking four in the final 2.2 innings. Claire Stone hit 3 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Elle Harrison hit 3 for 5 with an RBI, while Madison Bonham and Natalie Mayne both went 2 for 4.

vs. St. Mary's: W, 10-0 (5 inn.)

Carlow rallied in the nightcap, scoring 10 runs on 10 hits to shut out the Belles (0-1) in five innings.

The Celtics scored one run in the top of the first and second, and Schumacher threw a St. Mary's player out at home plate from shallow left field in the bottom of the second to prevent the Belles from scoring.

Taylor Egley hit an RBI single to center field, Fran Beighley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum Senior HS) hit a two-run single up the middle and Pollinger singled through the left side to put the Celtics ahead, 6-0, at the conclusion of the third inning. Bicko retired the Belles in order in the third and fourth to maintain Carlow's lead, and the Celtics tacked on four more runs in the top of the fifth.

Taylor Egley led off with a double, followed by Bicko with a single and a single from Beighley in the next at-bat brought in the first run of the inning. Pierce hit a one-out, RBI single to center field, and Wiggs hit a two-run single up the middle to put Carlow ahead, 10-0.

A hit batter and a double in the bottom of the inning gave the Belles some hope before Bicko struck out a player looking and drew a pop-up to end the game.

Bicko did well getting ahead in the count and forcing the Belles to swing at off pitches. She tossed a two-hitter with a walk and six strikeouts for the win. Beighley hit 2 for 4 with three RBI, while Pollinger and Wiggs added two RBI apiece. Taylor Egley went 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI.

Sam Mikitka suffered the loss for St. Mary's, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits with four walks and six strikeouts in the effort.

The Celtics face Washington & Jefferson College and Western New England University tomorrow at 4:15 and 6:30 p.m.