Photo by Kaylee Barber
Posted: Mar 11, 2020
NAPLES, Fla. – The Wilmington College softball team's bats went cold on day four of the team's spring trip to Florida on Wednesday. The Fightin' Quakers fell to State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta) 1-0 and Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) 5-2.
Offense was at a premium for both teams in game one. Hayley Suchland was the first Quaker to reach base with a one-out single in the top of the first, but was thrown out trying to steal second. The Red Dragons, conversely, got a runner on base in the bottom of the first via hit by pitch and successfully stole second. Wilmington starter Grace Shell struck out the side to keep the game scoreless.
Wilmington would have two more hits in the game, but never got a runner in scoring position. Oneonta struck out nine more times (for 11 total) and didn't mount an offensive attack until the sixth inning. Coincidentally, the Red Dragons got things started by reaching base via a strikeout with a dropped third strike. Two stolen bases followed, and as Amanda Sexton was stealing third, the throw to third went into the outfield, scoring the game's only run. One batter later, Oneonta tallied its only hit of the game, a single through the left side.
Shell pitched admirably and took the loss despite allowing one hit with 11 strikeouts and no walks. Alyssa Bluethgen earned the win, scattering three hits over seven innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Along with Suchland, Je'Taysia Johns and Mariyah Burkhardt had the Wilmington hits.
In game two, RIT got on the board in the board in the bottom of the first after lead-off walk crossed home plate thanks to a double from Alexis Smith. Two innings later, Erin Guinan launched a three-run home run over left field. Wilmington answered with two runs in the fifth courtesy of a Hayley Suchland home run. Offensively, that would be it for the Quakers as RIT added one more run in the sixth.
Torie Adler earned the win for RIT, scattering four hits and four walks in seven innings. Alexis Stringfellow dipped to 1-2 with the loss as she allowed four runs in three innings pitched. Hunter Salyers finished out the game, also allowing four hits, though just one earned run, in three innings.
Wilmington (5-3) closes out its spring trip with games against SUNY Canton and SUNY Brockport tomorrow (Thursday) morning.
