LEESBURG, Fla. – On the third day of their season Wednesday afternoon, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (3-3) fell by narrow scores in both their outings, getting blanked by the Carthage Firebirds (5-2) 4-0 before coming up short against the Neumann Knights (4-4) by a 4-2 score.

GAME ONE: CARTHAGE 4, WENTWORTH 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Carthage broke the scoreless tie in the first inning as a groundout by freshman Peyton Kryza (Lockport, Ill.) combined with an error brought home sophomore Clare Rettler (Appleton, Wis.), marking a 1-0 score.
• The two teams hashed it out until the fifth inning when the Firebirds doubled their score, with another single by Kryza bringing in another score by Rettler, raising the score to 2-0.
• Carthage again doubled their lead in the seventh inning as another hit by Kryza drove home two scores.
• Sophomore Kyla Igawa (Long Beach, Calif.) led the bats with three hits on four at-bats, while sophomore Julie Schiver (Moscow, Pa.) struck out four batters across a complete game. Sophomore Emma Faubel (Palos Heights, Ill.) and sophomore Olivia Hristov (Shorewood, Ill.) combined for the shutout in the circle for the Firebirds.

GAME TWO: NEUMANN 4, WENTWORTH 2

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth grabbed a 1-0 edge in the third inning as a sacrifice fly by Igawa brought home a score by freshman Brianna Miller (West Haven, Conn.).
• Neumann matched the score in the back half of the inning as a steal of second by sophomore Emily Ammon (Gap, Pa.) combined with an error brought her home, knotting the score at one-all.
• With two runners on, the Knights drove home a run on a single by freshman Sydney Wright (Eastampton Twp., N.J.) in the fourth inning, giving Neumann a 2-1 lead. The Knights stretched their lead to 3-1 later in the fourth inning as a fielder's choice led to a score by senior Taylor Portzline (Marysville, Pa.).
• A sacrifice fly by Portzline in the fifth inning led to another score for the Knights, pushing their advantage to 4-1. Wentworth dwindled the deficit to 4-2 in the sixth inning as a single by Miller combined with an error drove home a run by senior Annabelle Hebard (North Attleboro, Mass.).
• Miller paced Wentworth's hitters with three hits on three at-bats while junior Jess Rowe (Yardley, Pa.) struck out three batters in the circle. Wright pitched six innings for the Knights, striking out one batter and giving up 11 hits.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards play Rivier and Adrian back in Leesburg on Friday.
  
  

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