For the first time in the program's NCAA history, the Chestnut Hill College Softball team had a game end in a tie as game two of the Griffins' doubleheader on Tuesday with Fairmont State University was called for darkness as the ninth inning started with the score reverting back to 5-5 after the eighth inning was completed.
In the first game, the Griffins were unable to hold on to a 9-7 lead as the fell to the Fighting Falcons 13-9.
Chestnut Hill is now 9-9-1 overall after the two game set. Fairmont State improves to 14-7-1.
Amaris Guzman and Kayla Rolon had three hits apiece in the opener while Skyler Cunningham added two. All three players also had two RBI apiece as did Jazmine Ramirez. Rebecca Cessna took the loss, pitching 2.1 innings and giving up three runs.
The Griffins jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings of play. Rolon started the scoring in the first with an RBI single scoring Izabella Rodriguez and Cunningham followed with a single into centerfield scoring Alauna Kelley and Rolon. Guzman's RBI single in the second gave the Griffins a 4-0 lead.
Fairmont bounced back with two runs in the third and five more in the fourth to take a 7-4 lead. The Griffins countered with five runs in the fifth to retake the lead 9-7. Rolon's double scored Guzman who reached on a walk to start the inning. Ramirez followed with a two-out two-RBI double to tie the game at 7-7. Two batters later, Camille Dunham singled to score Giselle McLaughlin who entered to run for Ramirez. Guzman drew her second walk of the inning, this time with the bases loaded to score the final run for the Griffins, making the score 9-7
The Fightin Falcons plated three more in the top half of the sixth to retake the lead 10-9 and added three more runs (all unearned) in the seventh to round out the scoring and hang on for a 13-9 win.
Guzman, Jenn Pokropinski, Devin Warner and Dunham had two hits apiece in game two.
Fairmont State scored twice in the first inning before a single out was made but Griffins pitcher Jordan Tavarez limited the damage getting three quick outs following FSU's three hits to end the inning.
Chestnut Hill got one run back in the second when Christina Contreras drew a bases loaded walk. Fairmont's Bre Marietta hit a home run to left field in the top of the third to make the score 3-1
The Griffins tied the game in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs. Pokropinski singled to scored Guzman and advance Rolon to third. Rolon scored the tying run when Warner reached on a fielder's choice.
The score remained tied and went into extra innings when the Fightin Falcons Alexa Foresha paced a line drive single down the left field line, scoring both FSU runners for a 5-3 lead. The Griffins tied the game in the bottom of the eighth when Kelley who was placed on second to start the inning via the international tie breaker rule and moved to third on Dunham's single and advanced to second on an infield out, both scored on an infield throwing error that went out of play.
FSU scored in the top of the ninth when the game was called on account of darkness, with the final score reverting back to the last completed inning, 5-5.
The softball team is back in action today as they travel down the road to take on Jefferson University in a Central Atlantic Collegiate cCnference doubleheader. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m.
