MINNEOLA, Fla.—A big offensive outburst in the first game of the day gave Gordon Softball a split of results on day two of spring break. The Fighting Scots blanked Gallaudet 8-0 in the morning session before dropping a tough one to Scranton in the afternoon.
Game One
Gordon starter Caitlin Catalanotto (Kingston, N.H.) was sharp for the Fighting Scots from the get go and allowed the offense to work into a rhythm. Catalanotto struck out 11 Bison in her first collegiate start and held them to only four hits in six innings.
Megan Jenkerson (McDonough, Ga.) continued to be Gordon's most consistent offensive option atop the lineup, getting on base to start the game before scoring on an error.
The game remained 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth with Jenkerson again at the center of the scoring. She hit a ball to shallow centerfield that was retrieved and sent to third to tag out Kali Denty (Marshfield, Mass.). However, Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) scored easily from third before Denty was tagged to put the second run on the board.
The Fighting Scots broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs before the Bison could record an out. Laura Bieren (Groton, Mass.) hit a single into centerfield to lead off the inning and she was quickly ushered home on a double by Sarah Ryder (Telford, Pa.). Emily Kline (Park Ridge, N.J.) made it a 5-0 game with one swing of the bat in the next at bat.
The Scots effectively ended the game by run rule in the sixth. Jenkerson doubled to kick off the frame before scoring in another double by Bieren. After the Bison got a groundout, Kline singled into left to score Bieren and make it 7-0. Gallaudet almost extended the game by getting a force out at second, but Petersen doubled to send Catalanotto to third base. Abby Curry (Stamford, Conn.) pinch hit in the final at bat of the day and hit a comebacker to the pitcher, who could not get it cleanly to first base and allowed the winning run to cross the plate.
Game Two
The Fighting Scots had a tougher time against Scranton in the Monday finale.
Jenkerson led off the game with a hit for the third time out of four contests, but was stranded at second base. The Royals countered with seven runs on seven hits in the bottom half of the first inning and Gordon was never able to recover.
Four of the first five Royals hitters reached base, including a three-run home run by Jacqueline DeSarro (Bethlehem, Pa.) to put the Scots in a big hole. Two-RBI hits by senior Christine Kiefer (Wantagh, N.Y.) and Megan Zinn (Bridgewater, N.J.)—the second time through order—gave Scranton the only lead it would need for the remainder.
Scranton put two more on the scoreboard in the third and carried that score until the run rule went into effect in the middle of the fifth. Jenkerson collected another hit in the top of the fifth inning, accounting for both of Gordon's only knocks in the game.
Up Next
Gordon (1-3) has two more games on Tuesday, beginning with in-state opponent Westfield State at 3:30 p.m. before a matchup with Stevenson under the lights at 6.
