MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – After suffering a tough late-game one-run loss, the Hilbert College softball team let loose for a lopsided win.  Penn State Harrisburg took a hard fought 1-0 win in the 9:30 am game while the Hawks clawed their way to a 5-inning, 9-1 win against Dean College.

GAME ONE

Harrisburg strung back-to-back hits in the bottom of the sixth to take a 1-0 lead and then held the Hawks in the top of the seventh to escape with the win.

Five different Hawks earned went 1-for-3 in the defensive battle as the Lions struck six players out and stranded six potential runs on the bags.

Rachel Allen (1-2) faced 22 batters through six innings of work, struck out four and gave up four hits in the loss.

GAME TWO

The Hawks found their grove at the plate posting three runs in the opening inning and four more in the fourth.

With bases load and two outs, both Jenna Castricone and Morgan McNeill (2 RBI) singled to the outfield to lift Hilbert by three runs heading into the bottom the first inning.

Then in the fourth inning, Alyssa Barnas and Hallie Barone put pressure on the Bulldogs' defense when they moved around the bags before Hannah Prenoveau put the ball in play.  Barone stole second and then a pass ball gave Barnas home plate.  A fielding error gave Preoveau first base and Barone made it home.  Melanie Basile grounded out to an RBI to end the 4-run inning for Hilbert.

The Hawks put the game away in the top of the fifth when they padded their lead to an 8-run rule win.  McNeill started things off with a triple then stole home when Maia Delany stole second base.  Delany advanced to third base before Prenoveau earned another RBI single setting the 9-1 lead.

Marisa McIntyre struck the final two batters out to collect her first win in South Carolina.  The sophomore hurler struck six out, gave up one earned run and four walks through five innings of work.

McNeill went 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored one run.  Prenoveau (two runs) and Castricone each finished with 2RBIs of their one hit during the game.

Hilbert (2-4) returns to the field tomorrow for a mid-afternoon game (1:30pm) against Kings College. 

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