(MELBOURNE, Fla.) - The Quakers concluded their trip to Florida in the Space Coast Spring Games with two close losses against Nebraska Wesleyan University and the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Game 1 – 4-2 Loss Against Nebraska Wesleyan University
The Prairie Wolves struck first blood against the Quakers. A one out single and an error put runners on first and second. Megan Spence struck the next batter out after to end a 12-pitch at bat. The following hitter laced one right back to Spence, dribbling away from her allowing a runner to score. The next batter singled to third base, bringing in the second run of the inning.
Jocelyn Franz led off with a single to the four-hole in the bottom of the 1st. Audrey Gildea and Spence both got out, but Ashley Jo Hardesty drove a shot to right field, moving Franz to third. Hardesty took off for second, allowing Franz to score to put the Quakers down 2-1.
Both pitchers settled into their own as Wilmington and Nebraska Wesleyan remained scoreless until the sixth inning. The Quakers had traffic in the bottom of the 4th after a leadoff single by Spence and another single by Hardesty. Kymberlin Masino popped out, and Alaina Eldridge grounded into an inning-ending double play to strand the runners. Spence worked around a runner on third base in the top of the 5th to keep the score 2-1.
Alasandra Spears laced a line drive to center and the fielder dove, missing the ball allowing Spears to hustle for a leadoff triple in the bottom of the 5th. Maddie Starnes grounded out to the pitcher, and Addysen Stevens roped one right at the third basemen. Franz walked with two outs, but Gildea struck out swinging, squandering Spears' triple.
The Prairie Wolves had runners on first and second with one out in the top of the 6th. A fielder's choice put runners on the corners. The runner on first took off, and an off target throw by Hardesty allowed the third run to score. Nebraska Wesleyan tacked on one more in the top of the 7th. A single, sacrifice bunt, and another single put runners on the corners. An RBI groundout drove in the fourth run to take a 4-1 lead.
Wilmington threatened in the bottom of the 7th. Maddie Starnes singled to lead off the inning. Stevens grounded into a fielder's choice, and Franz laced one to left field, advancing to second on the throw. With two runners in scoring position, Gildea grounded out to drive in Stevens, but Spence flew out for the final out, falling 4-2.
Game 1 Notables
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Megan Spence went the distance, throwing 7.0 innings, allowed nine hits, four runs, and two earned runs. She walked two, hit one, and struck out three batters. Spence was 1-3 at the dish with one walk.
Game 2 – 4-3 Loss Against the University of Wisconsin-Superior
After both teams stranded runners in the first inning, the Quakers got on the board in the top of the 2nd. Alaina Eldridge knocked a one out single, and Kymberlin Masino drove her in with a single. Wisconsin-Superior tied the game in the bottom of the 2nd with a two-out RBI single that deflected off Audrey Gildea's glove into shallow right.
Gildea found her groove in the bottom of the 3rd, getting three straight outs after a leadoff walk. The freshman picked herself up in the top of the 4th, leading off with a double to deep left. With two outs, Masino crushed a ground-rule double, scoring Gildea. Addysen Stevens followed up with a hard-hit ball, getting past the second basemen. She scored Masino standing up but was thrown out at the plate attempting to stretch her knock into a inside the parker.
Leading 3-1, Gildea retired the side in order in the next half inning. The Yellow Jackets attacked in the bottom of the 5th. A one out hit by pitch was followed by a ground-rule double, putting two runners in scoring position. Gildea struck out the next batter, but a two-out rope to center scored the pair, tying the contest 3-3.
Wilmington threatened in the top of the 6th with a two-out single by Eldridge. Hadley Von Bargen ran for Eldridge and Lauryn Humphrey pinch hit for Maddie Starnes. With a 1-2 count, Humphrey dribbled one through the middle infield, moving Von Bargen to third. After Humphrey stole second, Masino struck out swinging to strand both runners. Gildea was under pressure with back-to-back two-out singles in the bottom of the 6th, but she induced a weak flyout to end the inning.
The Quakers failed to muster a run in the top of the 7th. A leadoff single and stolen base by the Yellow Jackets put the winning run on second base. The next batter walked, before Gildea got a foul out to Hardesty. A groundout to second advanced both runners to second and third, followed by a two out walk to load the bases. Wisconsin-Superior walked off the Quakers on an infield single to Franz at shortstop, winning 4-3.
Game 2 Notables
What's Up Next
Wilmington returns from their spring break trip to take on Hanover College in a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 18, starting at 3:00 P.M.
