Game 1 Boxscore
Game 2 Boxscore
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Goldey-Beacom College softball team lost two close games in a doubleheader against the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference play at McNeil Field Friday afternoon by scores of 6-3 and 5-4.
The Lightning fell to 14-12 on the season overall and 6-9 in CACC play. USP improved to 12-12 overall and 10-2 in league games.
Freshman Angelina Myers and sophomore Danielle Rice led the Lightning with three hits in the twin bill and Rice and sophomore Cailin Cavanaugh each went deep in the second game. Both starting pitchers, freshman Leanne Miller (4-3) and sophomore Shannon O'Hara (0-2) took losses on the afternoon.
Game 1: USP 6, GBC 3
After a scoreless first inning by both sides, the Lightning struck first in the top of the second inning when Miller tried to help her cause with an RBI single, driving in junior Jackie Waddle. But USP answered right back in the bottom of the inning for three runs on four hits and an error.
The Devils added two runs in the fourth to increase their lead to 5-1 before GBC started to mount a comeback in the top of the sixth.
Rice was hit by a pitch to lead off the sixth inning, and Myers followed with a single to right center. Head coach Jerry Grasso sent senior Kim Narkiewicz in to pinch run for Rice, and Narkiewicz and Myers both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by O'Hara. After Cavanaugh lined out to the pitcher, Waddle ripped a two-RBI double to left center, and the Lightning had cut the lead to 5-3.
But that would be all the offense GBC could muster, as USP added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and Courtney Spinner closed out her sixth win of the season by retiring the first three Lightning batters in the top of the seventh.
Miller (4-3) allowed five runs (three earned) on seven hits while not walking any of the 16 batters she faced on the afternoon in the three innings of work. Sophomore lefthander Sadie Jones came on to pitch the final three innings, allowing one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out one.
Game 2: USP 5, GBC 4
A late Lightning comeback bid fell just one run short in the second half of the twin bill as USP's Julie Shaw came on to close in the seventh inning and picked up her first collegiate save by shutting down the first three batters she faced.
Trailing 5-3 in the top of the seventh inning, Rice started things off with a lead-off double to left field. Myers followed with a double as well to center field and scored Rice. But then USP brought in Shaw, who retired O'Hara, Cavanaugh and Waddle in order to close out the win.
GBC managed just one run through four innings off of a solo home run by Cavanaugh (her second of the season), and trailed 5-1 heading into the fifth inning.
Senior Lauren Witzke then sparked a comeback in the fifth inning with a leadoff single. She then stole second, her 11th swipe in 12 attempts this season, and advanced to third when sophomore Shannon Graves grounded out to second base. The next batter was Rice, who belted her sixth homerun of the season to left field to bring GBC within two at 5-3.
Freshman Ashley Antosh, who pitched three strong innings of relief for the starting pitcher, O'Hara, shut down the Devils in the fifth and sixth innings to keep the Lightning in striking distance, but GBC could only manage one run in the top of the seventh and fell short, 5-4.
O'Hara tossed three innings and allowed four earned runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out three. Antosh pitched the final three innings and allowed one unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out four.
