Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The College of Saint Elizabeth's softball team (0-2, 0-0 NEAC) dropped their first two contests of the season, 10-3 to Penn State Altoona and 4-3 to Hilbert College on Monday afternoon.
In game 1 against Altoona, the Eagles got on the board first in the bottom of the inning as Heather Passaro scored on an error by Altoona's first baseman. In the top of the second, sloppy defense allowed the Nittany Lions to tie the score as the Eagles made two errors, leading to a run. The Nittany Lions added five runs in the top of the third inning to take a 6-1 lead.
The Eagles defense continued to falter as the Nittany Lions added two more unearned runs to take an 8-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning. After Altoona tacked on two runs in the top of the sixth inning, the Eagles fought back with two of their own. Rachel Romer smacked an RBI triple to center field and Alyssabel Garcia lined an RBI double to right, getting the Eagles to within seven. CSE could not manage a comeback, dropping the game 10-3.
In game two, Allie Jenkins got the offense going in the second inning with a triple to right field. The Eagles, however, left her stranded on third. Hilbert got on the board first, scoring three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Jenkins ripped a double to center, scoring Alyssabel Garcia and Samantha Albertson to get the Eagles within 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, Rachael Romer sent Hilbert down 1-2-3 to keep the deficit at one.
In the top of the 5th, Passaro smashed a line drive passed the center fielder, leading to an inside the park home run and tying the score at three. In the bottom of the seventh, Hilbert loaded the bases with two outs, before Jenna Castricone lined a single to left, giving Hilbert the 4-3 win.
Jenkins finished 3-6 with 2 RBI's on the day. Passaro added two hits, including her first home run of the season and three runs scored over the two games.
The Eagles return to action on Tuesday for the second day of the Fastpitch Dreams Classic when they take on Greensboro College at 9:30 am and Wentworth Institute of Technology at 3:30 pm.