CLERMONT, Fla. – The Union College softball team earned their first win of the season with a 10-5 win over Keuka College before falling to Manchester College, 8-5 to earn a split on their final day in Florida from the Legends Ball Fields on Thursday afternoon.

Senior Karson Saunders shined in both games for Union. She went 6-7 in two games including a perfect 4-4 in game two against Manchester. She totaled five singles and a double, drew two walks, went a perfect 4-4 when stealing and added an RBI. Classmate Olivia Valery totaled five RBI in the two games . 

Game 1: Union College 10, Keuka College 5

Saunders stole 4 bases in game one. Saunders the first player to steal four bases in a game in over 10 year for Union. Valery lead the way with three RBIs and three hits, while first-year Ellie Wintringer hit her first collegiate home run.

Union (1-6) got off on the right foot today, as they scored to take the lead in the opening frame. Senior Tara Hartnett started the game off with a walk and then advanced to third on a wild pitch and pass ball. Saunders also walked and then stole second base to put two runners in scoring position. Valery singled to center field and scored Hartnett to give Union a 1-0 lead.

Keuka (0-7) responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first inning to even the score at 1-1.

Union then exploded for five runs in the third inning to grab a hold of the lead for good. After back to back singles from sophomore Riley Callahan and Saunders. Saunders stole second and Callahan stole home to regain the lead, 2-1. Valery then batted and singled for the second time to center field, scoring Saunders. Valery scored on a throwing error making it 4-1.

Senior Amanda Granato helped herself out with a single of her own that moved sophomore Nahnny Sobetzko to third base.  First-year Haley Gibbons singled to right field and scored both Granato and Sobetzko to give Union a 6-1 lead after three innings.

In the fourth, Union tacked on two more runs, thanks to a triple from Valery that scored Saunders and a single from Granato that plated Valery.
The Wolves pushed back, scoring four runs on two hits in the bottom of the fourth, making it 8-5 Union.

Union out the game out of reach with a two-run home run off the bat of Wintringer, making it 10-5 Union. Union won 10-5 for their first win of the season.

Granato threw 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and striking out one batter, before being replaced by sophomore Melody Kappel (1-2) earned her first win of the season, throwing 3.1 innings of work, with three strikeouts and no runs allowed.

Game 2: Manchester College 8, Union College 5

Manchester (6-4) jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, scoring four runs in the second inning and then two more runs in the third to jump out to 6-0 through three. The Spartans added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to lead 8-0 and push Union up against a wall.

Union grabbed two runs in the bottom half of the fifth inning. First-year Emma Barnes singled to start the fifth inning for Union. Senior Anna Zdunczyk reached base on a fielder's choice that brought up Saunders. She doubled to right center and moved Zdunczyk over to third. With two outs in the inning, Wintringer singled to left field, scoring both runners and cutting into the Spartans lead (8-2).

In the bottom half of the sixth inning, Union continued their push for a comeback. Kappel singled down the left field line. Senior Samantha Long singled to third base to out runners on second and first with one out. Saunders singled to center field and scored Kappel in the process. Union trailed 8-3.

Valery then stepped up to the plate and singled through the right side to score both Long and Saunders, and Union pulled within three of Manchester.

In the bottom of the seventh, Union loaded the bases with one out, but were unable to score any runs, and lost 8-5 to the Spartans.

Sophomore Autumn Duff (0-4) was tabbed with the loss, after throwing four innings, allowing five hits and striking out 5 batters. Callahan threw three innings of relief allowed one run on two hits and struck out two batters.

Union will return home from their Florida trip and travel to North Adams, Massachusetts to take on Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) for a double header on Wednesday, March 29. First-pitch for game one is set for 3:30 p.m.