Softball downed in 10 innings on final day of spring training

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Carlow University softball concluded spring training with a pair of run rule losses Thursday.

The Celtics bring a 1-7 record back to Pennsylvania.

vs. Marietta: L, 16-1 (5 inn.)

Carlow struggled through the first inning, allowing two hits and committing three errors that afforded the Pioneers (3-4) a 5-0 lead. Bekah Valenti tabbed an infield single to reach base in the top of the second, and Jillian Durst hit a two-out single up the middle to bring in Valenti for the Celtics' lone run.

A triple extended Marietta's lead to 7-1 in the bottom half of the frame, and the Pioneers turned a double play in the top of the third to prevent Carlow from scoring.

Marietta piled on eight runs with five hits and an error in the bottom of the inning to push their advantage to 15-1 and retired the Celtics in order in the top of the fourth.

Back-to-back doubles scored the Pioneers' final run in the bottom of the fourth as Marietta allowed one hit and stranded two Carlow runners in the fifth to secure the win.

Mackenzie Egley went 2 for 3, and Clara Niglio was saddled with the loss after allowing three earned runs on four hits with a walk to start the game.

Rachel Kazmirski hit 3 for 4 with a double, triple and four RBI to lead the Pioneers, and Breanna Zirkle picked up the win after allowing one run on five hits with a walk in three innings. Marietta tallied 16 hits in the game.

vs. Wheaton: L, 14-2 (5 inn.)

The second game of the day unfortunately played out like the first.

The Thunder (5-3) landed five runs on six hits in the first inning. Carlow answered in the bottom half of the frame when Francesca Beighley singled to get on and McKenna Pierce moved her to second with a sacrifice bunt. Bella Cartieri stepped to the plate and hit a one-out single to left center to bring Beighley home and cut Wheaton's lead to four. With the bases loaded, Riley Cope hit a ground out to the right side to score Cartieri as the Celtics trailed, 5-2, heading into the second inning.

The Thunder scored six runs on seven hits in the top of the second to push their advantage to 11-2, retiring the Celtics in order in the bottom of the inning and tacking on another run off a wild pitch in the third.

Wheaton turned a double play to prevent Carlow from scoring and added its final two runs in the top of the fourth with a two-run single up the middle. The Thunder turned another double play in the bottom of the fourth, and although Carlow held Wheaton to one hit in the top of the fifth, the Celtics were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom half of the frame.

Cartieri went 2 or 2 with an RBI to lead the Celtics at the plate.

Megan Pollinger suffered the loss, allowing five runs on five hits with a strikeout in 0.2 innings to start the game.

Isabel Hillyer went 3 for 3 with a double and five RBI, Elizabeth Meyer hit 3 for 4 with an RBI and Olivia Nahorniak hit 2 for 4 with a double and three RBI to lead the Thunder at the plate. Wheaton pounded 18 hits in the game, and pitcher Victoria Barbar earned the win after allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks in three innings.

The Celtics return to action with a 3:30 p.m. nonconference doubleheader at Waynesburg University March 14.