CLERMONT, Fla. - The Union College softball team fell 7-2 to Manchester University and 5-1 to Lawrence University in the first two games of the 2025 season on its first day at the NTC Spring Games on Saturday afternoon at Hancock Park.
Game One: Manchester 7, Union 2
Manchester took an early lead in the first inning when Sabrina Leonard's sacrifice fly brought Kendal Rider home.
After a scoreless second, the Spartans doubled their lead in the third when a passed ball allowed Aubrey Ciupak to score, making it 2-0. Manchester added another run in the fourth as Molly Gilhooly's RBI single drove in Erin Singleton.
Following a quiet fifth inning, Union found offensive momentum in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Ellie Wintringer reached first on a fielding error by Manchester's third baseman and advanced to second on senior Nahnny Sobetzko's single to center field. First-year Kyla Springer then doubled to right field, driving in Wintringer to put the Garnet Chargers on the board at 3-1. Sophomore Sophia Gomes, who pinch ran for Sobetzko, advanced to third on first-year Springer's double before scoring on a sacrifice fly by junior Haley Gibbons, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
However, Manchester pulled away with four unanswered runs in the seventh. Leonard singled to center field, plating Rider to make it 4-2. A throwing error allowed Lexi Goodman to score, pushing the lead to 5-2. Shortly after, a second error brought Leonard home for an unearned run. Lizzy Willis then capped off the rally with an RBI double to left, scoring Singleton to seal Manchester's 7-2 victory.
Senior Melody Kappel took the loss for Union, allowing seven runs (four earned) in seven innings.
Game Two: Lawrence 5, Union 1
After a scoreless first inning, the Vikings struck first in the bottom of the second. Ava Pilgrim's single up the middle drove in Kourtney Mercer to take the early lead.
After a quiet third inning, a big fourth inning saw Lawrence push the lead to 4-0. Sajel Stewart-Verna doubled to center field and drove in Gillian Guerriero and Mercer. Shortly after, Zoe Doherty doubled to right field, allowing Stewart-Verna to come home.
The Vikings added another run in the fifth inning with Chilson adding a groundout to drive in Taylor Hughes for their fifth and final run of the game.
Union broke through in the sixth inning when senior Tatum Perkins tripled to right field before junior Elizabeth Werner singled up the middle to drive Perkins in, but the comeback fell short as Lawrence secured the win.
First-year Carra Cleaves allowed five runs in six innings of work in her collegiate debut in the circle for Union.
Union returns to action tomorrow with a doubleheader against Hamline University and Knox University set to start at 10:00 AM and 12:15 PM, respectively.
