Pride Offense Comes Alive In Day Three Split

CLERMONT, Fla. — The Pride softball team totaled 19 hits while splitting a pair of games at Hancock Park in Clermont, Florida. The Pride opened the day with their first win of the season, a 5-1 victory over North Central (Ill.), before falling to Marywood, 9-8, moving to 1-5 on the young season.

Regis vs. North Central (Ill.)

The Pride wasted no time getting underway as Grund opened the game with a triple and was brought home by a Licata single up the middle. Moments later, Mel Rees ripped a double that plated Licata and gave the Pride an early 2-0 lead for their best start in the Sunshine State.

The defense held strong in the bottom half of the inning. A strikeout from Kate Julian followed by a Zancan putout stranded a runner at second and kept the Cardinals off the board. Zancan's defense continued to shine in the second, recording the first two outs before a Julian heater down the middle sent the final batter chasing for strike three, ending the inning and maintaining the shutout through two.

The Pride's bats stayed hot in the third. Licata beat out a throw at first for her second hit of the day and later came around to score alongside Samantha Kelepouris two batters later on a Rees single, extending the Pride's lead to 3–0. The defense answered again in the home half with a quick three-up, three-down inning, highlighted by a crafty over-the-shoulder catch by Kelepouris at first.

Licata continued her strong performance in the fifth, making a diving catch in center field to end the inning with a runner on base. An inning later, the defense stepped up again with runners on the corners and two outs. Grace Motto fielded a hard-hit ball and fired it to Zancan for the third out, once again preventing the Cardinals from crossing the plate heading as they went into the final frame.

In the top of the seventh, Rees delivered again with a shot to left that brought home two runs and pushed the Pride's lead to five.

The Cardinals did not go away as they mounted a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded. Shouse placed a ball just over Zancan's outstretched arms to score the Cardinals' first run. They would load the bases again, but Lynsey Kay shut the door to end the threat and secure a 5-1 victory for the Pride.

Regis vs. Marywood

Samantha Kelepouris delivered in the first inning with runners in scoring position, blasting a three-run shot over the left-center field fence to give the Pride an early 3–0 lead. Kristen Galvin added to the tally later in the inning with a hard-hit single to short that snuck plated Michaela Edwards.

In the top of the third, the Pride defense continued to stifle Marywood, retiring the side in order. The inning was highlighted by a diving catch from Galvin to seal the three-up, three-down frame.

Marywood answered in the bottom half with runners on the corners when Lauryn Notari lined a ball to left to bring home the squad's first run. A sacrifice fly to right soon followed, scoring another runner from third to cut the Pride's lead in half.

However, the Pride defense held firm. Gabby Blanchard got a batter swinging for the fences, and Mel Rees followed with a backhanded stop before firing to first to end the threat.

The Pride responded by capitalizing on a Marywood error to push two more runs across. Shortly after, Lynsey Kay followed in Kelepouris' footsteps with a two-run shot over the center field fence, extending the Pride's lead to 8-2 after four. 

The Pacers mounted their rally in the sixth with disciplined at-bats, loading the bases and bringing home a pair of runs. Amber Little then cranked a triple to left-center, driving in three and tying the game at eight. The score would hold, setting the stage for a tie ballgame heading into the final frame.

Galvin came up big again to start the seventh, making a catch over her shoulder to prevent what could have been an extra-base hit. However, the Pacers responded when it mattered most, placing a runner on second before Teagan Clark drove in a run to give the Pacers their first lead of the game. The run would prove to be the difference, as the Pacers turned a double play in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on to complete the comeback and secure the 9-8 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• In the circle, Kate Julian earned her first victory of the season, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run and striking out three.
• Mel Rees went 3-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs, her highest total since recording five RBIs during her first season against Elms.
• Francesca Licata also finished 3-for-4 in the opener, marking the sophomore's most hits in a single game.
• The Pride's ten hits in Game two were their highest total in a game so far this season.
• Madi Zancan was a key part of the defensive effort, recording seven outs in the opening game.
• Samantha Kelepouris delivered the first home run of the season in game two, which was also the first of her career in the Crimson and Gold. She ended that game going 3-4 from the plate with three RBIs.
• Lynsey Kay's two-run homer in the second game marks the first of her season and second of her career. 

Up Next

The Pride have a day off before returning to action on Thursday, March 12, when they will face Nichols at 9 a.m. and Skidmore at 11:15 a.m.