KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Thiel softball team split a pair of contests Thursday during play in the Diamond 9 Citrus Games at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex. Thiel began the day with a 9-0 win over Emerson in six innings before suffering a tough 2-1 loss to the College of Staten Island in nine innings.

In the first game of the day against the Emerson Lions, Leah Woytek (Hillsville, Pa. /Mohawk), Vanessa Falce (McKeesport, Pa./McKeesport) and Madison Fullmer (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) each went 2-for-3 at the plate. Caitlyn Carney (Lake Milton, Ohio/Jackson Milton) also contributed three RBIs.

Freshman Mackenzie Gullette (Dunlap, Ill. /Dunlap), who took a no-hitter into the fourth inning, refused to give up a run. She allowed two hits and struck out one batter.

Erin Nolan absorbed the loss for the Lions. In five innings, she allowed six runs on nine hits.

The Tomcats fought hard in a nine-inning battle against the College of Staten Island Dolphins.

Falce and Carney went 1-for-3 at the plate in the second game.

After the Dolphins broke a scoreless tie in the top of the eighth, Thiel forced another tie in the bottom of the inning when Falce singled down the right field line, allowing Woytek to score from third.

The Dolphins went ahead for good in the top of the ninth on an unearned run.

Jessica Kelley (Sarver, Pa./Freeport) suffered the loss for the Tomcats. In the extended nine-inning game, Kelley allowed two runs, neither of which was earned, on eight hits. She recorded one strikeout and allowed one walk.

Jacqueline Cautela earned the win for the Dolphins. In nine innings, she struck out two batters and held the Tomcats to one run on five hits.

The Tomcats will conclude play in the Diamond 9 Citrus Games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Friday. Thiel will face Simmons College at 11 a.m. and 15th-ranked Coe College at 1:15 p.m.