CLERMONT, Fla. – After two postponed games on Sunday evening because of rain, the Tomcat softball team finally played its first game of the season in Florida on Monday evening against Fairleigh Dickinson. Thiel would (0-1) would lose their first game of the season 6-5.
Ashley Dolan (Export, Pa./Franklin Regional) would get the bats going in the bottom of the second inning when she singled to center field. Dolan would steal second to put her in scoring position for
Amanda Callahan (Austintown, Ohio/Austintown Fitch). Callahan would connect for a single, scoring Dolan and putting the Tomcats up 1-0.
The Knights would respond in a big way when Megan Golembiewski sent the ball over the center field wall for a grand slam, pushing the Knights ahead 4-1.
In the bottom of the fourth inning,
Danielle Massengill (North Bend, Wash./Mt. Si) would start the inning off with an infield single and would score when
Molly Jo Everett (Medina, Ohio/Highland) hit an RBI double. Callahan would once again come through with a clutch RBI double, scoring
Sarah Szczypinski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Carlynton) and getting the Tomcats within one run at 4-3.
After a strong performance from
Kristen Moreland (Dover, Ohio/Dover) in the top of the fifth, teammate Massengill would provide the spark for a comeback as she tripled with
Ashley Dolan (Export, Pa./Franklin Regional) at the plate. Dolan connected for a single, scoring Massengill and tying the game at 4-4.
Fairleigh Dickinson would go ahead in the top of the fifth inning 6-4 with the Tomcats fighting hard to make a comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, Massengill lead off the Tomcats when she safely reached first from an error by the short stop. After a stolen base by Massengill, a single from Dolan and a walk from Everett, the bases were loaded for
Ali House (Liberty, Ohio/Liberty). House hit into a fielder's choice but scored Massengill from third to make the score 6-5.
The Knights would prevail and end the Tomcat comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning with the final score 6-5.
Thiel continues play Monday night at 8 pm against St. Scholastica.
