The Saint Martin’s softball team snapped a seven-game skid with a pair of victories in Bartow, Florida, as part of The Spring Games Tuesday morning. The Saints first took care of Lynn University 9-1 in five innings before shutting out Northwood University 2-0.
Saint Martin’s got rolling in the first inning against Lynn, as two walks in the first three batters turned into a single by Kaylee Walker to load the bases and a Taylor Oregeles walk to bring home the first run. Amanda Peterson also walked with the bases loaded to score the second run, but the Saints left the bases loaded.
The Saints doubled their lead in the second inning thanks to a two-run single by Heather Ebner to score Haley Agena and Elissa Dewees. Lynn’s best chance at a comeback came in the third inning against Saint Martin’s starter Bridget Johnson, as Kyleigh Hope walked and advanced to third on two passed balls before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly. But the Fighting Knights left a runner at third and could only score one run in a 4-1 game. Agena added one more run in the third with an RBI double, and Jennessy Lopez blew the game open in the fourth on a two-run double.
RBI singles by Oregeles and Layla Royle in the fifth inning concluded the game in five innings. Walker recorded three hits, while Ebner and Royle both went 2-2 at the plate. Johnson totaled four innings in the circle, allowing three hits, one unearned run and two walks while striking out two.
In the afternoon game against Northwood, Saint Martin’s left the bases loaded without a run in the first inning before scoring the first run on an Agena RBI triple to score Dewees.
Pitcher Kayla Vaughan rolled for the Saints. At one point, she recorded eight straight outs. By the time the Timberwolves reached base again, Saint Martin’s tacked on another run with an Ebner RBI single, allowing Dewees to score for the second time.
Amanda Peterson entered the game in relief of Vaughan, who pitched five shutout innings and struck out five while only surrendering two hits. Peterson escaped a jam in the seventh inning, leaving runners stranded at second and third to earn her first save of the season.
Ebner continued her hot streak at the plate, reaching base eight times in eight plate appearances across the two games Tuesday and recording three RBIs. She leads the Saints with a .522 batting average this season.
Saint Martin’s (9-11) will continue action in Bartow Thursday, first against Grand Valley State University at 11:30 a.m. PT and then against California University of Pennsylvania at 1:45 p.m. PT.
