CLERMONT, FLA – Westfield State dropped a pair of softball games on Tuesday, falling to Olivet (Mich.) College, 4-2, and later to Gordon (Mass.) College by a 14-12 final in a wild extra-inning affair.
Against Olivet (5-7), Westfield took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, manufacturing a run when Julia Hebert reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, took third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch.
The Comets scored two in the home half of the first and added a third run in the bottom of the second to lead 3-1.
Angelica Banning gets a high-five from coach Colleen Bannister after Banning’s 3-run home run gave Westfield the lead against Gordon College. The Owls lost 14-12 in extra innings. (Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports)
Westfield cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the third as Maddy Atkocaitis singled home Bri Tortora.
Olivet got an insurance run in the fifth on a solo home run from Taylor Smith, which would prove to be all the offense the Comets would need.
Michaela LeBlanc (0-1) started and worked 4.2 innings in taking the pitching loss for Westfield. Bekah VanDam earned the win for Olivet.
Tortora finished with a pair of hits for Westfield.
In the nightcap, the Owls fell behind 5-0, but then rallied for three runs in the third inning and then five in the fourth, grabbing an 8-6 lead on Angelica Banning’s 3-run home run.
Gordon (2-3) battled back, scoring six runs in the top of the 6th to lead 12-8, but again Westfield (1-3) responded, this time with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, getting the tying runs on a two-run single from Maddie Keigwin.
The Scots pushed across a pair of runs in the eighth inning, and Westfield was finally unable to answer.
Banning, Sullivan and Keigwin each had a pair of hits for the Owls, with Banning driving in four runs. Liz Kelly homered for the Owls as well. Sullivan, the third Owl pitcher of the afternoon took the loss.
Caitlin Catalanotto picked up the pitching win for Gordon. Megan Hankerson homered for the Scots. – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
