NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Thiel College softball team dropped both their contests against Albion (5-4) and Immaculata (11-3) Friday from the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.
Thiel finished the week 5-5 as they come back north to begin conference play on Saturday.
Game 1: Thiel 4, Albion 5
Albion regained the lead and secured the victory in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Tomcats were unable to answer in their final at-bat.
In the bottom of the fifth, Albion tied it at four apiece from a single and double both hit to center field.
Going into the fifth frame, Thiel took the 4-2 advantage over the Britons with a small rally started by Kylie Heid (Monaca, Pa./Central Valley). Heid doubled to the left side as Kayley Risser (Reynoldsville, Pa./Dubois Central Catholic) brough her home off a triple through the left side. Two errors made by Albion made it easy for senior Mackenzie Herman (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) to round the bases and bring in another blue and gold run.
Both teams traded one run and outs throughout the first four innings. Albion struck first in the second, as Thiel followed with a run in the top of the third.
On the mound, Alaina Fedder (Clearfield, Pa./Clearfield Area) pitched 64 pitches in the first five innings. Freshman Lily Merolillo (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) gave up the game winning run as she came in to relive Fedder.
Risser went 2-for-3, including a walk as Herman went 2-for-4. Risser and Herman each brought in two RBIs.
Game 2: Thiel 3, Immaculata 11
Despite a short fifth inning comeback, Thiel could not stop the Mighty Macs from scoring the go ahead run to close out the contest.
To start the fifth frame, Heid singled to the center field as Kalina Moreno (San Antonio, Texas/Clark) was walked. Heid was brought home by Madison Hufford (Cortland, Ohio/Mathews), followed by an error on the third baseman to bring home Moreno.
Immaculata took over the game in the second inning, scoring seven runs on the Tomcats. A few errors that would've led to outs and power hitting fueled the Mighty Mac rally. Ava Gilmore (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex Area) came in halfway through the inning to pitch for Merolillo, letting up only two runs.
Thiel is back in action on Mar. 17 as they travel to New Philadelphia, Ohio to take on Kent State Tuscarawas for an 11 a.m. double header on the road.
