FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Edgewood College softball team rebounded in a big way from its third-straight loss to open the 2016 Gene Cusic Classic by exploding for seven runs over the final two innings against the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Saturday night at the CenturyLink Sports Complex. After a 13-2 loss to Kenyon College, the Eagles rallied late to take down the Panthers by a score of 8-4.
The Eagles were held to four hits and were hurt by three errors on defense in the day's first game. However, Sabrina Maicke gave the Eagles a quick 1-0 lead after knocking in Jackie Diesch on a single up the middle in the first.
It would be all Kenyon College from there on out until Jordan Anderson knocked in the team's final run on a sacrifice fly to deep center in the fifth and final inning. Courtney Luezinger had a pinch-hit triple down the right field line just two batters earlier.
Shannon Whitmus was tagged with the loss after tossing two innings while Karlie Klossner was in the circle over the final two frames. Diesch and Rachel DeJongh picked up the other hits in the game for the Eagles.
The bats finally came alive and they did so in a big way in the last few innings of the nightcap against Pittsburgh-Bradford. DeJongh started in the circle and allowed three runs—one earned—through three innings and settled in to toss her best performance so far this season.
With the Eagles still down by only three runs heading into the fifth, Maicke racked up her second RBI of the day with a sac fly that scored Sydney Cramer in the fifth to make it a two-run ballgame.
A pair of extra-base hits in the sixth would give the Eagles the lead. DeJongh helped her own cause by singling to lead off the inning and scored one batter later after Whitmus doubled to right center. A throwing error by Pitt-Bradford's catcher allowed DeJongh to scamper home and gave Whitmus third base. Grace Delleman tied things up one batter later with another sac fly.
A Sabrina Luedtke single and a Diesch double to the left field gap put the Eagles up 4-3, but the Eagles wouldn't stop there. Two singles, a fielder's choice and a walk loaded the bases with one out in the seventh with the score still 4-3 in favor of the Eagles. Delleman then walked to the plate and delivered her second long ball of the season on a 1-1 offering for a grand slam.
Pitt-Bradford threatened slightly but only managed one more run off DeJongh in the bottom of the seventh.
DeJongh picked up her first win of the season after allowed just six hits and two earned runs in the complete game effort. She struck out four batters as well. Jordan Anderson finished 3-for-4 while Delleman knocked in five runs on a pair of hits. DeJongh and Luedtke also finished with two hits apiece.
The Eagles head right back into action with an 8 am (CT) game on Sunday against the University of St. Joseph (Conn.) and a 10 am (CT) game against Alfred State College. Both games on Sunday will be played at North Collier Regional Park in Naples, Fla.
