The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg softball team opened its spring trip in Clermont, Florida on Sunday with a split in doubleheader action. The Bobcats used a dominant third inning and a complete-game effort from Autumn Powell to defeat Juniata, 7-1, in the opener before falling to Heidelberg, 14-7, in the second game of the day.
Game 1: Pitt-Greensburg 7, Juniata 1
Pitt-Greensburg opened its day in Clermont with a strong all-around performance, using a big third inning and a complete game in the circle from Autumn Powell to defeat Juniata, 7-1.
After two scoreless innings to begin the contest, the Bobcats broke through in the top of the third. Brenna Altman started the rally with a single to left field before Whitney McCoskey followed with a base hit up the middle. Jadyn Davis then reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases and set the stage for Shelby Cloak, who delivered a two-RBI single to center to give Pitt-Greensburg its first lead of the game.
The Bobcats continued to pile on in the inning. Jessica Dunn laid down a bunt single to score Davis and then stole second. Moments later, Hunter Taylor ripped a double to left-center, bringing home both Dunn and Cloak to cap a five-run frame and give Pitt-Greensburg a commanding 5-0 advantage.
Pitt-Greensburg added to the lead in the fourth inning when Altman singled again and later came around to score on Cloak's RBI double to right-center, extending the margin to 6-0.
Juniata broke up the shutout in the fifth with an RBI triple from Claire Thomas, but Powell limited the damage and kept the Bobcats firmly in control.
The Bobcats tacked on an insurance run in the seventh after Cloak singled and eventually scored on a throwing error, pushing the lead to 7-1.
Powell closed the door in the bottom half of the inning, finishing a complete-game effort in which she allowed just four hits and one run while striking out six. Cloak led the offensive attack with three hits and three RBI, while Altman added two hits and two runs scored in the victory.
Game 2: Heidelberg 14, Pitt-Greensburg 7
In the second game of the day, Pitt-Greensburg rallied with a big inning midway through the contest but ultimately fell to Heidelberg, 14-7.
Heidelberg jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. A leadoff single by Leah Arnett set the tone before Hannah Hashman reached on a bunt that resulted in an error and allowed the first run to score. Ellie Tressler followed with an RBI single to give Heidelberg a 2-0 lead after the opening inning.
The Student Princes added another run in the third when Abbie Marshall singled up the middle to score Tressler and extend the advantage to 3-0.
Heidelberg broke the game open in the fifth with a six-run inning. Carmen Moore delivered a two-RBI single before Adyson Bowe tripled to drive in another run. The rally continued with RBI hits from Hannah Hashman, Tressler, and Alexis Burton, pushing the lead to 9-0.
Pitt-Greensburg responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning with a six-run rally of its own. Lilly Buckles singled to start the push before Keira Rozanski added a base hit to load the bases. Falynn Reinard drew a walk to force in the Bobcats' first run, and Madyson Hart followed with another bases-loaded walk to make it 9-2. Mia Dalessandro then delivered a two-RBI single to right field, and Sadie Kelly reached on a pair of Heidelberg errors that allowed two more runs to cross, cutting the deficit to 9-6.
Heidelberg answered in the sixth with RBI singles from Bowe and Arnett to stretch the lead back to five runs. The Student Princes added three more in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI double from Cara Meyer, to put the game out of reach.
Pitt-Greensburg managed one final run in the bottom of the seventh when Madyson Hart singled and eventually scored after Gabriella Grabiak reached on an error.
Dalessandro recorded a pair of RBI for the Bobcats, while Hart scored twice and added an RBI. Rozanski and Buckles each collected hits as Pitt-Greensburg finished with four hits in the contest.
The Bobcats return to action tomorrow with contests against Curry College and Haverford College.
