Softball Falls to Bluffton, Dominican (Ill.)

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – On day two of their Florida swing, the Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team (0-4) was clipped by Bluffton (3-2) by a 4-3 score before falling behind to the Dominican (Ill.) Stars (2-2) by an 11-3 score.

GAME ONE: BLUFFTON 4, WENTWORTH 3

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth stretched out to a 2-0 lead in the first frame, first with a single from Lexi Lefkowski driving home Kelsey Medalia. From there, a ground-rule double by Lauren Trostel plated Kyla Igawa.
• After Jess Rowe got the Leopards out of a pinch with the bases loaded an inning prior, Bluffton cut into the score by one on an inside-the-park home run by Kaylee Grant. The Black & Gold answered in the back half of the inning as an Igawa double plated Katelin Howe, re-gaining Wentworth's two-run lead at 3-1.
• Bluffton cut into the lead in the seventh inning as a sac fly with two runners on base drove one home, marking a 3-2 lead. A double by Mia McCartney drove another two runners home later on, giving the Beavers a 4-3 edge.
• The Leopards came up empty in the back half of the inning, stranding Howe at second base. Howe, Igawa, and Trostel each notched two hits for the Black & Gold. In the circle, Rowe struck out four batters and surrendered eight hits.

SERIES NOTES:

• The two teams last met exactly one year ago today for their first-ever meeting, a 5-0 win for the Leopards.

GAME TWO: DOMINICAN (ILL.) 11, WENTWORTH 3 (FINAL – 5 INNINGS)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Wentworth garnered a 2-0 lead in the first inning as an Igawa single plated Howe. Later, a groundout by Lefkowski ran home Medalia. However, the Stars took a 4-2 lead in the back half of the inning as an inside-the-park homer was followed up with three singles to drive in three baserunners.
• The Leopards cut the deficit to 4-3 in the second inning as a single by Linnea Carlson drove home a score. Dominican placed runs in each of the following, starting with two doubles in the second to mark a 6-3 lead. A double in the fourth helped push the advantage to 9-3 before a sac fly and a single in the fifth marked an 11-3 game.
• Howe led offensively with two hits, including a double. Julia Malowitz (9 hits, 1.2 innings) and Julie Schriver (7 hits, 3.0 innings) split time in the circle.

SERIES NOTES:

• Prior to today, their lone other meeting was a 7-5 win for Wentworth back in 2023.

NEXT UP:

• The Black & Gold are off tomorrow and square up with Chatham and Saint Vincent on Wednesday.

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