MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (3/2/2020) – Chestnut Hill College softball kicked off its season at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic against a pair of northeast foes. Despite two close battles, the Griffins could not grab a win, falling to Franklin Pierce University, 3-1, and Mansfield University, 3-2.
The team received largely solid pitching outings from a trio in the circle – junior
Julianna Barry (Northridge, Calif.), senior
Kaley Wise (Hamilton, N.J.), and junior
Gabrielle Merryman (Sewell, N.J.) – and a .500 hitting day from junior outfielder
Devon Horner (Mt. Laurel, N.J.).
Game One
After two scoreless innings, Franklin Pierce University (7-1) jumped ahead in the bottom of the third thanks to three runs off three hits – including a pair of extra-base knocks. That's the only damage that the Ravens could manage, but it would be enough to upend Chestnut Hill College.
The Griffins loaded the bases in the fourth inning off singles from Horner and junior third baseman
Nadine Arredondo (Stephenville, Texas), as well as a hit-by-pitch, but back-to-back strikeouts got Franklin Pierce University out of the jam unscathed.
The Scarlet and Gold got on the board in the fifth inning thanks to a Horner RBI single, but the Griffins left two runners on base to keep the Ravens' two-run lead intact.
Game Two
Mansfield University (4-4) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, but it struggled to deal with the Griffins' pitching staff following that four-hit opening stretch.
Kept scoreless through five innings of play, Chestnut Hill College rallied in the final two frames. After a Horner double, sophomore first baseman
Lily Reid (Texas City, Texas) drove her in on an RBI single in the next at-bat.
Horner came up clutch once more in the top of the seventh, delivering an RBI single with the Griffins down to their final out to send the game to extra innings.
Extra inning rules automatically placed a runner on second base for the Mountaineers in the eighth. A walk and an error loaded the bases and Mansfield secured the win with a walk-off single.
Up Next
Chestnut Hill College faces off with Franklin Pierce University and Shawnee State University on the second day of the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic, beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.