Softball Takes on Day Two of Spring Games in Sunshine State

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Regis College softball team continued its spring break trip Monday morning with a pair of games against Rhode Island College (RIC) and Penn State–New Kensington. The Anchorwomen claimed the opener, 15-2, in five innings, before the Pride fell to Penn State–New Kensington, 8-1, in the second game.

Regis vs. RIC

Sydney Grund picked up right where she left off yesterday, opening the game with a double to left field. She then capitalized on a pair of wild pitches to come around and score the game's first run, giving the Pride an early 1–0 lead.

RIC quickly responded in the bottom of the inning. Noelle Simmons opened the Anchorwomen's offense with a triple to left-center, followed by three additional hits that drove in four runs and flipped the score to 4-1 in RIC's favor.

Madi Zancan answered with a triple of her own in the top of the second, and once again the Pride benefited from a wild pitch to cut the lead in half at 4–2. The Anchorwomen responded immediately as Simmons recorded her second hit of the game. A sacrifice bunt moved her into scoring position, and two more hits brought home a pair of runs before a defensive play by Zancan at shortstop ended the inning.

From there, it was all RIC, as the Anchorwomen offense added four runs in the third and five more in the fourth to secure the 15-2 victory in five-innings. 

Regis vs. Penn State–New Kensington

The Pride started strong defensively against the Lyons. Kate Julian's defense retired the first two batters of the game before the sophomore pitcher struck out the third looking to end the opening inning.

Penn State–New Kensington's offense came alive in the second inning, however, collecting three hits, highlighted by a Piper Zufall triple, to take a 3–0 lead.

Samantha Kelepouris recorded the Pride's first hit of the game with a single to left field, but the Lyons turned a double play before a groundout ended the inning. Penn State–New Kensington continued to add on, doubling its lead over the next two innings to go ahead 6–0 after four.

In the fifth inning, Francesca Licata made two impressive catches in center field to keep the Lyons at bay and help the Pride record a quick three-up, three-down frame. In the bottom half, Zancan notched her second triple of the day, but the Lyons' defense stranded her on base.

The Pride finally broke through later in the inning. Gabby Blanchard used a high pop-up and the sun to her advantage to reach second base, then moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Licata followed with a single up the middle to drive in Blanchard and make it 8–1. However, that would be the final run of the game, as the Lyons secured the victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Madi Zancan recorded two triples, marking the first time in her career she has recorded more than one triple in a single-season, coming just four games into the year.
• Kate Julian struck out six batters in her second appearance of the season.
• In game one, first-year, Renee Arcand made her first appearance in the crimson and gold.
• Francesca Licata, Samantha Kelepouris, Madi Zancan, and Mel Rees all recorded their first hit of the season.

Up Next

The Pride will be at Hancock Park tomorrow facing off against North Central (Ill.) at 9 a.m. followed by a matchup against Marywood at 1:45 p.m.