WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The University of Dubuque softball team battled with Neumann University and Cabrini University to close games on Thursday at the Spring Games. The Spartans lost to Neumann 3-5 and Cabrini 7-8 in extra innings.
Game 1 - Neumann University
The Spartans would trail 5-0 after the first five innings in game one, but a rally by the Spartans in the final two innings would just fall short. The Spartans got their first run of the game one after Powell grounded out to first base advancing
Megan Leick home. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Leick singled to shortstop bringing in Darian Diorio as well as
Madyson Dwight reaching on a fielder's choice scoring
Megan Croke to cut the Neumann lead to 3-5. With the bases loaded and two outs, the top of the lineup was due for the Spartans as
Kaitlyn Powell stepped to the plate. Powell would hit a hard ball into center field, but the Neumann center fielder was right where Powell hit the ball to end the game.
Dwight had a team-high three hits in five plate appearances. Leick and Croke each added two hits in game one.
Jaelyn Blakemore started on the mound and went four innings giving up four hits and an earned run. Blakemore struke out three of the 13 batters faced.
Ally Gullette came in for relief and finished the final three innings.
Game 2 - Cabrini University
Cabrini would lead 2-1 in the first two innings of game two, before they exploded in the third with five runs to expand their lead to six runs. Trailing by six heading into the top of the sixth, the Spartans would rally all the way back as Leick, Trisha Sporaa,
Chloe Hild, and
Bella Allison (x2) all recorded hits to tie the game at 7-7. With runners on second and third, the Spartans had a chance to grab the lead, but a tough caught ball by the Cabrini shortstop ended the half inning. The Spartans would get three outs in the bottom of the seventh to force extras. With a runner on second base to start extras for both teams, the Spartans were unsuccessful in bringing the runner home and Cabrini would capitalize in the bottom of the eighth to win.
Powell had a team-high three hits in her five at-bats with two RBI's. Among the 12 Spartan hits in the game, eight different Spartans recorded hits.
Paige Manning went the full game on the mound allowing 14 hits and one earned run. Manning struck out two batters and walked a pair in 40 batters faced.
Up Next
The Spartans will play a double header tomorrow against Adrian College at 2:00 p.m. (ET) / 1:00 p.m. (CT) and Chatham University at 4:30 p.m. (ET) / 3:30 p.m. (CT) at the DiamondPlex.