Softball struggles on second day of spring training

KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- Carlow University softball dropped two games on the second day of spring training in Florida Monday.

vs. Illinois College: L, 9-0 (5 inn.)

The Lady Blues (2-5) no-hit the Celtics through five innings in a 9-0 run rule game to start the day.

A two-run single up the middle with runners on second and third brought the first runs in for Illinois College, and an RBI single up the middle with two outs gave the Lady Blues a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Illinois College added two unearned runs on two hits in the top of the second and sealed the deal in the top of the sixth with four runs (two earned) on six hits. The Lady Blues left six Celtics stranded on base in the game.

Clara Niglio was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4.2 innings. Justena Giles recorded the final out for the Celtics and allowed one hit.

Kayla Serpa hit 3 for 3 and Calynn Gicante went 2 for 4 with two RBI to lead Illinois. Hannah Crouch earned the win in the circle, allowing four walks and striking out two in four innings of work. Gicante pitched the final inning with a walk.

vs. Geneva: L, 4-2

The Celtics held a 2-1 advantage over Geneva College (1-1) for almost four innings, but a late push from the Golden Tornadoes handed them the win in the afternoon game.

The Golden Tornadoes struck first when the leadoff batter reached on an error and stole second. A one-out RBI double to right field brought in the unearned run and put Geneva on the board in the bottom of the first.

Carlow had runners on second and third in the top of the second but was unable to bring them home.

The Celtics gained the lead in the top of the third. Niglio hit a one-out double to left field to get things started for the Celtics, and an 11-pitch at-bat for Francesca Beighley resulted in a single to center field that put runners on the corners for Carlow.

Maddie Bowes singled through the hole at shortstop to bring in Niglio, and Megan Pollinger singled up the middle to score Beighley and put Carlow ahead, 2-1.

The Golden Tornadoes retired the Celtics in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Bowes made a diving catch on a short fly ball to right field to record the second out in the bottom of the fourth before a fly ball to center ended the inning for the Celtics.

Geneva made its move in the bottom of the sixth, putting runners on the corners with a single and a double.

An RBI single to left field tied the game at 2-2 and forced the Celtics to make a pitching change.

With runners on second and third and only one out, the Golden Tornadoes landed a bunt single to load the bases.

An infield single put Geneva ahead, 3-2, and with the bases still loaded, a wild pitch brought in another run for the Golden Tornadoes to give them a 4-2 advantage.

Bella Cartieri started the top of the seventh with a double to right-center field, and Jillian Durst drew a walk, prompting a pitching change for Geneva. Mackenzie Egley laid down a textbook bunt in the next at-bat to load the bases for Carlow, but a line drive resulted in a double play for Geneva, and the Golden Tornadoes secured the win with a strikeout.

Pollinger hit 2 for 3 with an RBI and Beighley went 2 for 4 at the plate. Tatum Wiggs suffered the loss, allowing three earned runs on eight hits with a strikeout and a walk in five innings. Pollinger tossed the final inning with a strikeout and two hits.

Two Geneva players hit 2 for 3 and Molly Shelley hit 2 for 4 to help lead the Golden Tornadoes. Haley Smith earned the win, allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks in six innings. McKenzie Rapp picked up the save with one strikeout and one hit in the final inning.

The Celtics return to action in Florida with two games March 6.