CLERMONT, Fla. - The Union College Softball team closed out the NTC Spring Games with a doubleheader sweep in a commanding 9-1 over North Central and a 4-2 victory over Lawrence University on Thursday at Hancock Park.
GAME 1: Union 9, North Central 1
Junior
Sam Rose remained a dominant force at the plate, going 2-for-5 with four RBIs and two runs. First-year
Amelia Ormond finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run. Sophomore
Kyla Springer went 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run while senior
Ellie Wintringer added two RBIs. Classmates
Elizabeth Werner and
Maddy Ewald also contributed, as Werner went 2-for-3 with a run and Ewald finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Sophomore
Amy FitzPatrick went 1-for-3 with a run, and first-year
Daniella Nocera scored as a pinch runner.
First-year
Amelia Brancazio delivered a dominant performance on the mound, allowing just one run on five hits. Brancazio struck out seven batters with no walks.
Union got on the board in the first inning when Springer singled to left, driving in Rose for a 1–0 lead.
The Garnet Chargers broke the game open in the second inning with a big rally. Ormond started with an RBI single, driving in Werner to make it 2–0. Rose then delivered a two-run single to plate Ewald and FitzPatrick, extending the lead to 4–0. Wintringer followed with a single, and a left field error allowed Springer, Rose, and Ormond to score, pushing the lead to 7–0.
North Central got one back in the fourth as Kaitlyn Havens singled to left field to drive in Abi Rogers. However, Union added insurance in the sixth. Ormond picked up her second RBI of the game with another single, driving in Nocera to make it 8–1, and Rose capped the scoring with a two-run single to seal the 9–1 victory.
GAME 2: Union 4, Lawrence 2
First-year Sophia Geackel went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Rose and Wintringer each went 1-for-3 with an RBI. FitzPatrick also drove in a run. On the mound, sophomore
Carra Cleaves delivered an excellent performance, pitching seven innings, allowing only five hits and two earned runs while striking out eight.
After a scoreless first inning, the Garnet Chargers got on the board in the second when FitzPatrick grounded out to shortstop, driving in Cleaves. Union extended their lead as Geackel singled to right field, bringing in
Sophia Burynski and putting Union ahead 2-0.
In the fourth inning, Rose singled to center field to drive in Geackel, increasing Union's lead to 3-0. Lawrence responded that inning with Sajel Stewart-Verna's single to center, scoring Anitza Gutierrez and cutting the deficit to 3-1.
Union added another run in the sixth when Wintringer hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Springer to make it 4-1. Lawrence scored once more in the bottom of the sixth as Avery Chilson singled, bringing in Gutierrez. No one scored in the seventh inning, and Union secured the 4-2 victory.
The Garnet Chargers return to action on Monday, hosting Vermont State University Castleton for a doubleheader at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.