Softball | 3/23/2014 4:35:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

CLERMONT, FL – The RIT softball team (1-3) dropped a pair of games from the Dot Richardson Spring Games at the National Training Center on Sunday. In the morning, the Tigers fell to Wellesley College (Mass.) by a score of 7-3, and were defeated by No. 11 St. Thomas (Minn.) in five innings, 14-5.

In the opener, RIT took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a run-scoring single by Brittany Griffin (Sterling, VA/Park View ), before Wellesley came right back with five runs in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Kelsey McManus (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon ) responded for RIT by hitting her 10th career home run in the top of the third inning, a two-run shot that bounced off the top of the left field fence and over to cut the Wellesley lead to 5-3.

RIT out-hit Wellesley 9-8 in the loss. Griffin was 2-for-4 with a run scored and driven in, while Amanda Cook (Royal Palm Beach, FL/Suncoast) and Sarah Wolcott (Cohocton, NY/Wayland-Cohocton) were both 2-for-4. Sierra Valentine (Rochester, NY/Greece Athena) took the loss for the Tigers, allowing seven runs in 4 1/3 innings. Emma Sarles (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Seven different hitters had at least one hit for Wellesley. Maria LaBouyer led the way by going 2-for-2 with a triple, run scored, and run driven in. Amber Braun picked up the win for Wellesley, allowing nine hits and three runs in the complete-game effort.

Against St. Thomas, RIT found itself in a 4-0 hole before coming to bat in the first inning. RIT would respond however, with three runs on five hits in the bottom half of the inning. Alexa Farner (Gowanda, NY/Gownanda) led off with a lead-off single. After an out, RIT would rip four straight hits, as Cook singled to right, and Wolcott singled up the middle. With the bases loaded, McManus singled up the middle to drive in Farner and Cook, making it 4-2 Tommies. Griffin followed with a double to right center that scored Wolcott, but McManus was thrown out at the plate trying to tie the game.

From there, St. Thomas continued its offensive assault, adding five runs in the second, one in the third, and four in the fifth, sandwiched around two RIT runs in the fourth inning. In the fifth, Micaela Trainor hit a grand slam to center field, making the score 14-5 Tommies.

RIT had 10 hits in the losing effort. Griffin was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, while Wolcott was 2-for-2 with a run scored and walk. Farner and Sam Killian (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) had two hits apiece. Killian also drove in a run for the Tigers in the fourth inning.

Erin Mussett was 2-for-3 with three RBI's for the Tommies. Bianca Peterson and Brenna Walek both had two hits, two RBI's and scored a pair of runs each. Morgan Murphy picked up the win on the mound for St. Thomas, allowing six hits and three runs over three innings.

RIT is off Monday, but back in action on Tuesday against nationally-ranked foes Luther College and North Central College. The contest vs. No. 6 Luther gets underway at 11 a.m., while the game against No. 23 North Central begins at 3 p.m.