Clermont, Fla. — Marywood University softball wrapped up its Spring Break trip with a pair of wins over Monmouth (Ill.) and Roger Williams on Friday. The Pacers finished the trip with a 4-2 record for its best Spring Break winning percentage since 2006.
Marywood defeated Monmouth 7-2 in the morning opener. The Pacers held off Roger Williams for a 6-2 win to wrap up their Sunshine State slate.
Marywood 7, Monmouth (Ill.) 2
Mara Hamm notched her third victory of the week with a complete game performance. Hamm struck out six batters, allowing just four hits and two earned runs.
Marywood found the long ball with home runs from
Nina Kozar and
Samantha Baltrusaitis. Kozar finished with a 2 for 4 performance at the plate with two RBIs and two runs. Baltrusaitis reached twice with a pair of runs scored.
The Pacers opened with a four-run first inning. After
Lindsey Jason reached and advanced with a steal, Kolar hit an RBI single to right center to drive in the run. A walk and hit batsman loaded the bases to score on a passed ball. Becher hit an opposite field RBI single that drove in a second run on a defensive error.
Marywood extended its lead to 6-0 in the third inning. Kozar hit a solo shot over the center field wall.
Brooke McKay scored on a Fighting Scots' error.
The Fighting Scots responded in the bottom half of the third with two runs. Mykenzie Kloess brought in both runs on a double.
Baltrusaitis knocked in her first home run of the season in the seventh to cap the scoring.
Marywood 6, Roger Williams 2
The top third of Marywood's batting order batted 6 for 10 and had an on-base percentage of .667 to lead the way to the Pacers' second victory of the day.
Emily Rose hit 2 for 4 with a double, run scored and a pair of RBIs.
Kristie Epler and
Samantha Baltrusaitis reached base three times. Epler went 2 for 3 with two runs.
Jessica Hanley finished with three RBIs.
Senior outfielder
Julianna Beidler gave the Pacers an early advantage with her first career home run. Beidler led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo blast to left center.
Marsico picked up her first win of the season. She struck out six in a complete game outing, allowing two earned runs.
Marywood doubled its lead in the bottom of the third.
Annie Heyen loaded the bases when she placed a bunt down, and no Hawks infielders covered first base. Hanley forced a bases-loaded walk. Roger Williams escaped the jam with an outfield-assisted double play when Alex Burdick threw out a runner at home plate.
Hanley drove in two more runs in the fourth inning. With a bases-loaded opportunity for the second consecutive at-bat, she skied a ball to deep center field that found open grass and scored Epler and Rose.
Roger Williams cut the Pacers' lead in half in the fifth inning. A pair of hits enabled left-handed slapper Casey Uryga to hit a sacrifice fly for the Hawks' first run. Sydney Provencal hit one of her three base hits on the game to bring in Emma MacLean for the second lead. Faced with the go-ahead run at the plate, pitcher Marsico escaped the jam when
Ashdon Clark secured a hot-shot line drive to her left side.
Marywood retrieved its four-run lead in the bottom half of the inning.
Lindsey Jason led off with a pinch-hit single to left field. After Becher reached on a single and advanced to second on an infield error, Rose cleared the bases on a double to center field.
The Pacers will begin the Atlantic East Conference season upon its return to the Keystone State. Marywood travels to Immaculata University for a doubleheader on Saturday.
