Mary Baldwin softball traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, to face Notre Dame of Maryland, splitting a doubleheader. The Fighting Squirrels dropped the first game 10-5 before bouncing back to win the second game 12-9.
Game 1
Mary Baldwin struck first in the opening game as freshman
Dana Micone homered to center field, driving in two runs for the first home run of her collegiate career.
The Gators responded with nine unanswered runs, highlighted by an explosive fourth inning. Julianna Leatherwood hit a ground-rule double in the inning to drive in their fifth run, and Raegan Perkes added a triple that brought in three more runs.
The Fighting Squirrels attempted a late rally in the fifth inning when senior
Jenna Dimiceli hit her second home run in as many games, a three-run shot that cut into the deficit.
Game 2
Mary Baldwin found its rhythm in the second game, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Micone continued her strong performance at the plate with a double to right field that drove in freshman
Lizzy Laurelli. Later in the inning, freshman
Cassidy Branch doubled to score Micone, and freshman
Aliana Vanegas Hawkins singled to bring Branch home.
The Gators answered with three runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game at 3-3.
In her second plate appearance, Branch broke the tie with a home run over the center field fence.
Branch added to her strong performance in the sixth inning, singling to right field to record her third RBI of the game and give Mary Baldwin a 6-5 lead. The Fighting Squirrels added several more runs in the inning to extend their lead to 11-5.
Notre Dame (Md.) responded with a rally in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to two runs, but it was not enough. Senior
Kendal Switala drove in an insurance run in the seventh inning to help secure the victory.
Mary Baldwin's pitching staff limited Notre Dame's opportunities by forcing 12 flyouts in the game.
Up next
Mary Baldwin will make its home debut Saturday, March 14, hosting Guilford College in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
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