Marauders Drop Two on Opening Day

Saturday, March 5

Clermont, Fla.

11:30 a.m.

Millersville University

#16 Tampa

Marauders Drop Two on Opening Day

3/5/2011 4:07:44 PM | Softball

Box Score (Dominican)
Box Score (Tampa)

Clermont, Fla. – The Millersville softball team opened its 2011 season in sunny Clermont, Fla., on Saturday morning playing back-to-back games against Dominican College and No. 16 Tampa. The Marauders were unable to come away with a victory but showed their ability in a late drive against the No. 16 team in the country.

Millersville (0-2) got off to a slow start at the plate against Dominican (5-4), only seeing the ball reach the field three times the entire game. The Chargers collected their six runs on eight hits, but four of those runs were unearned. Two throwing errors by the infield would lead to two, two-run innings for Dominican in the top of the second and fourth innings.

Both teams left six total runners on base through seven innings of play. That proved more costly to the Marauders.

Allison Chew led the way for Millersville hitting two singles and a stolen base. Freshman Emily Sneeringer also reached base on a single.

Millersville started to find its groove against the No. 16 Tampa (14-1). After two scoreless innings the Spartans were able to reach home in the third when Brie Walton scored from second base on a Susan Jallo double.

The score would extend to 3-0 after a two-run inning for Tampa in the bottom of the fifth.

The Marauders responded immediately in the top of the sixth. Sarah Signore singled with two on and two out, sending Sneeringer home from second and advancing Davina Kachnovitz to third.

Junior catcher Kelly Fitzgerald continued the late rally with a single of her own to score Kachnovitz and send Signore to third. A pop up to the catcher would cut the inning and rally short.

The Spartans would close out the final inning to escape with a 3-2 victory and improve to 14 wins on the season.

Millersville continues play in Clermont, Fla., tomorrow when it takes on Grand Valley State at 9:30 a.m., and Urbana at 11:30 a.m. Check out Millersvilleathletics.com for live stats.