CLERMONT, Fla. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology softball team dropped its season-opening contest, falling to Ursinus, 5-4, at The Spring Games.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Wentworth Batting Leaders:  Katlin Pettenger (2-for-4), Alexandra Pina (2-for-3); Briana Beverly (1-for-4, HR)
Wentworth Pitching Leaders:  Erin Hancock (L, 0-1), five runs (two earned), seven strikeouts in six innings pitched

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• After a scoreless first two innings, Ursinus got on the board in the top of the third. Junor Jordan Moore (Salisbury, Md.) led off the inning with a single and was lifted for a pinch runner. Junior Anna Mefford (Havertown, Pa.) went to second on a sacrifice bunt and, with two outs, scored on an RBI single from freshman Jessica Fusco (Bristol, Pa.). The Bears added to their lead in the top of the fourth when Moore hit a single which allowed sophomore Maddie Solow (Norristown, Pa.)  to go to score and eventually score on an error.
• Wentworth cut the deficit in half with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the inning when senior Briana Beverly (Pawcatuck, Conn.) launched a home run with one out. Ursinus got the run back in the top of the fifth when junior Allyson Meakim (Downington, Pa.) hit an RBI double and, an inning later, the Bears made it s 5-1 game when they scored a pair of unearned runs.
• The Leopards clawed their way back, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and runners on first and second, senior Ceilidh Higgins (Medway, Mass.) had an RBI single to plate junior Kaitlin Pettenger (Budd Lake, N.J.) and graduate student Kayla DeMedeiros (South Dartmouth, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to score senior Alexandra Pina (Cumberland, R.I.). The Black & Gold had runners at first and second with two out in the home half of the seventh when Pina delivered an RBI single to score pinch runner junior Julia Hutchinson (North Billerica, Mass.) to make it 5-4, however, a pop up ended the game.
• Pettenger and Pina each delivered a pair of hits for Wentworth, with Beverly, Higgins, and DeMedeiros each driving in a run. Junior Erin Hancock (Holden, Mass.) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on seven hits and striking out seven.

ALL-TIME SERIES:

• Today marked the second all-time meeting between the two teams. Ursinus leads, 2-0, with both contests being one-run games.

NEXT UP:

• Wentworth plays SUNY Potsdam and Pitt.-Greensburg on Monday..

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