CARLISLE, Pa. - Behind a pair of multi-hit game by
Eden Blanker and
Zoe Kleeblatt the Dickinson softball team had a pretty successful home opener on Thursday afternoon as they split a non-conference doubleheader with the visiting Alvernia University Golden Wolves at Dickinson Park. The Red and White took game one by a score of 11-6, before being tripped up in game two 7-5.
Game One: DEVILS 11, Golden Wolves 6
Time of Game: 1:48
Pitching Decision: W -
Abby Kohan (1-2) | L - Natalie Berwick (2-2) | S -
Erin McMahon (1)
Inside the Game
The Devils wasted little time taking the lead as
Jessie Sandusky opened the game with an infield single, before three batters later with two gone Kleeblatt went yard for the 2-0 edge through one. After a scoreless second and third tossed by Kohan, the home side added another one during the last of the third when a one out triple from Sandusky came home on a groundout by
Jane Lloyd against Berwick pushing the margin to 3-0. Dickinson kept on the attack in the fourth as a leadoff knock for Kleeblatt and sacrifice bunt by Kohan had a runner in scoring position for
Emily Whelan. She stepped into the box and smoked a two-bagger out to center driving in another run extending the margin to 4-0, prior to Laia Gwathmey ripping a single into right plating Whelan for the 5-0 lead heading to the fifth.
Alvernia finally worked their way onto the board in the fifth as a single and DC error had two one with two down for Emily Sano who collected a two-run triple to left, before Kohan recorded a flyout of Tara Tumasz to retire the side. However, Dickinson answered right back as Kelsey Racine took over in the circle for Berwick. A walk to Sandusky, followed by a single from Blanker made it 6-2. After a flyout by Kleeblatt, Kohan singled, before Whelan rocketed a two-run double to deep center opening up a six-run gap (8-2). The Golden Wolves attempted to claw back into the game with a pair of two-run singles during the sixth to pull within 8-6. Once again DC had the response as a walk and hit batter led to a sac fly from Lloyd followed by back-to-back RBI doubles for Blanker and Kleeblatt sending the lead out to 11-6. McMahon would then secure the save in the top of the seventh with three popouts.
The Devils Circle Report
Kohan was solid over 5.2 innings of work giving up eight hits and six runs (four earned), while striking out three. McMahon earned her first collegiate save tossing the remaining 1.1 frames surrendering three hits, but allowing no runs.
Game Two: Golden Wolves 7, DEVILS 5
Time of Game: 1:31
Pitching Decision: W - Maggie Loomis (5-2) | L -
Erin McMahon (1-2)
Inside the Game
Devils starter
Kaylie Renner ran into some difficulties in the first as two singles and a DC miscue resulted in two runs coming across for Alvernia. Following a "one-two-three" home-half by Loomis in the circle two more singles and a free pass led to another scoring for the Wolves to take a 3-0 lead going into the last of the second. Dickinson began the bottom-half with double by Kleeblatt, but Loomis then set down Kohan, Whelan and Renner to prevent any damage. The game would stay that way until the top of the fourth, when Taylor McClain produced a two-run triple out to left-center extending the gap to 5-0. However, in the last of the frame the Red and White had a big response as a double by Blanker and walk for Kleeblatt set the stage for RBI singles from Whelan and Renner to cut it down to 5-2. A single off the stick of Gwathmey filled the cushions for
Lily Hartley. She provided an RBI groundout to second, before Sandusky smoked a two-run double to right-center knotting the game up at 5-5.
McMahon took over for Renner to kickoff the fifth and allowed a single and double to make it 6-5, before a sac fly two batters later from Alaina Snader (7-5). Dickinson had a chance to bring themselves right back into the game during the home-half as knocks by Blanker and Kleeblatt had two on with no one out, but three straight fielder's choices led to outs on the base-paths to retire the side. Unfortunately, for the Devils that would be their best chance the rest of the game as they could only muster one base runner over the final two innings allowing the Wolves to leave Carlisle with the 7-5 win.
The Devils Circle Report
Renner got the start and went the first four innings giving up eight hits and five runs, in addition to walking two batters. McMahon took a hardluck loss hurling the final three fames allowing four hits leading to a pair of runs, while fanning five hitters.
The On-Deck Circle
Dickinson (2-10) is slated to get back on the field Saturday afternoon at 1pm for a non-conference doubleheader against local foe Wilson College at Dickinson Park. However, with the inclement weather things are subject to change stay tuned for further updates as they become available.
